Good Sense and GarffCare

by Andrea Harris

Photo Credit: marshallbatteries.com.au

Can I tell you a secret?  I haven’t always driven a Honda.  I know, I know.... the HORROR!  But it’s true. So before my carefree Honda days, I sometimes had a little trouble getting from point A to B without incident. Like the time I was bee-bopping up the freeway at normal Utah fast lane speeds... You know, somewhere between the posted limit and what hopefully won’t get you a ticket... and my car began to shudder like I was having a personal earthquake. I managed to white knuckle it to safety, but there really wasn’t much of a shoulder.  I didn’t dare get out of the car because I was so close to oncoming traffic in the right lane.  So I sat there, hoping my car wasn’t about to explode.  I didn’t see or smell any smoke, so I figured I was safe for the moment.  

Then, I started making phone calls.  First, I called my mom.  You should always call your mom and freak her out but good when you’re stranded on the side of the freeway.  Moms REALLY love that.  Of course she told me to call a tow truck and then suggested maybe my dad should just come and rescue me.  I didn’t think my car was drivable... but I also didn’t to be stuck with potentially-terrifying-tow-truck-guy all alone.  (I might have been feeling a little panicky and vulnerable at the moment.)  We hashed it out for a few minutes before deciding to send my dad immediately and THEN call for a tow truck.  Better safe than sorry, right?  What I wouldn’t have given at that moment to just have someone I knew who could come deal with it all. Fix the car, give me ride home...

Maybe someone like these guys: http://www.kengarffhondaoforem.com/garffcare.htm

That’s right. GarffCare.  BEST. IDEA. EVER.  

So, when only a few short months later, my non-Honda and I parted ways and got my first Accord, Luna,  I knew that if I was ever stranded again, my Ken Garff guys were only a phone call away!  

I also knew that I needed to be a more emergency prepared driver.  I felt totally helpless because I hadn’t really ever planned on anything bad happening to me. Foolish me!   Even with GarffCare, there are a few common sense tips every driver should follow, especially as we head into summer vacation time:

Move to Safety

Never get out of the vehicle to make a repair or examine damage on a busy highway. Get the vehicle to a safe, out-of-the-way spot, and then get out of the car. If you've been in an accident, motion for the other driver to do the same.

If you have a tire blowout or a flat, good roadside safety calls for moving your vehicle to a safer place out of harm's way before attempting a repair, even if it means destroying the wheel. The cost of a new tire, rim or wheel is well worth it when it means ensuring your safety.  That was totally true for me!  My tire, riddled with nail holes, had stripped off the rim. But my safety was way more important than worrying about the cost of a new wheel.  

Call for Help

If your car won't run or if it's so badly damaged that it can't be driven, stay in the vehicle and use a cell phone to call for help. Don't stand outside the vehicle in the flow of traffic.

If you break down in a dangerous area, call the police and stay in your car with the doors locked until help arrives.

Be Prepared

This is where I really let myself down. Carry flags, flares or reflective triangles in your vehicle so you can mark your location in the event of an emergency, even during the day. Remember to turn on your hazard lights so that other drivers have advanced warning of a problem ahead.

Be sure to always carry roadside safety kits for emergencies. Your kit should include:

• Jumper cables
• Canned instant tire inflator
• Heavy-duty rope
• Gloves and warm blanket for winter breakdowns
• First aid kit

NOW, I know what to do and I always have a small crate in my trunk with all the essentials. I additionally carry water and warm socks for the wide variety of weather Utah can sometimes dish out!   I also have GarffCare... and between the two, it’ll be easy to travel safely this summer! Happy road tripping, everyone!

Photo Credit: lightboxcollaborative.com

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.

The Package Deal

When my husband and I first bought a car from Ken Garff Honda of Orem, one of the first things we did is cancel our AAA membership.  Although, AAA provides a number of different services and benefits, we'd used it largely for roadside assistance.  Thanks to a special Ken Garff program, that assistance was no longer needed.

The program has morphed a bit over the years, but the spectacular service remains the same.  It's called GarffCare and let me tell you, the Garff's know how to care.

When you purchase a car at any Ken Garff dealership you get the GarffCare package as part of the deal.  It's an automatic add-on with no costs or paperwork.  GarffCare provides free towing to any Ken Garff location running from Odgen to Spanish Fork and also in the Park City Area.

They also provide roadside assistance including jumping a dead battery, unlocking your vehicle if you left your keys inside, and installing a spare tire for you if you have a flat.  In fact, they'll even bring you 2-3 gallons of gas if you've run out.  Something, that I'm embarrassed to admit that I've done.  And really, it's no body's fault but my own, still, they'll come right out to save the day!

The GarffCare program insures that you can get on-the-spot car registration, saving you a trip annually. They also provide a patch-and-go service for a flat tire repair at no charge.  Just imagine, you've got a flat tire.  Calling 1-877-222-5887 connects you to a tow truck who changes your tire for you. Then you drive to the nearest dealership and they patch your flat and get you back on the road. The total cost?  $0.  Nothing!  Nil.  Zip.  Zilch.  Nada.  It's just the Garff way of thanking you for your business.

And to sweeten the deal... every service you get at the dealership service department, even if it's just an oil change or tire patching, you get a GarffClean--an executive wash and vacuum every visit.