One of the most common items when you get an oil change is a coolant flush. A coolant flush gets rid of your old coolant that has broken down and replaces it with new coolant. This is becoming less and less common, as extended life coolants are more common and only need to be changed every 100,000 miles. These extended life coolants are red in color, whereas the traditional coolant is green in color. Make sure you know what kind of coolant you have in your vehicle by looking at your owner’s manual before you have your coolant flushed.

Shocks and struts are another common repair. When your shocks go bad, your vehicle is going to ride rough. On top of that, though, your tires will wear unevenly. It’s important, then, to make sure that you replace your shocks when they need it. You can test your shocks and struts by pushing down on the front of the vehicle and then releasing it. It should come back up to its original height easily, and not bounce.

Make sure you only trust a qualified mechanic to service your vehicle. Set up an appointment with our Lehigh Valley vehicle service center today.

Here are some steps to follow to add that finishing touch and get your tires looking as sparkly as the car.

• Degreaser is the first and most effective tool when cleaning your tires. Spray it on the tires and the rims, too. Let it set for a few minutes so it can work and break down the dirt particles on the tires.
• After letting the degreaser set for a while, spray the tires with a high-pressure nozzle. Get close to the tires because that creates a stronger pressure to wash off more dirt and grease.
• Use a tire brush to apply soap to the tires. You can use the same soap you used to wash the car. Scrub the tire thoroughly with the brush and soap.
• Rinse the tire again with the garden hose. Inspect the tire carefully for any spots you have missed or for areas that need more scrubbing. Repeat scrubbing until all of the dirt and grease is gone.
• Dry the tires and rims off with a soft towel. Use a different towel for each tire if you can as it will become rather dirty from the excess dirt and grease.
• Apply a tire preservative to your tires. This will keep them looking new and protect them as well. Follow the directions on the bottle to ensure you apply it properly.
• Make sure you use a cleaner and degreaser appropriate for your wheels, as some types will harm certain wheels. Read the packaging carefully and know what your rims are made of so you don’t damage them when you clean them. If you’re not sure, use a cleaner that is safe for all types of rims.
• Be sure to rinse the cleaning products off your tires quickly. In fact, do one tire at a time so the products don’t set. If you wait too long before rinsing, the products could create a buildup and you’ll just need to scrub them again.
• If you have whitewalls on your tires, use a sponge to scrub them. There are also specialty cleaners you can use to make them even whiter. Bleach is a good product, but there are safer ones that are better for the environment and your health.
• Store the tire cleaners in a cool, dry place that children can’t reach.

Cleaning your tires properly and regularly is important, and not just for appearance’s sake. When you take the time to clean your tires, you can also check for tread wear and other things that could cause a problem as you drive down the road.

When to Change Your Hyundai’s Wiper Blades

You should change the wiper blades on your Hyundai car every 6 months. One easier reminder is to change them at the same time you change your clock for daylight savings time. The 6 month time period is meant as a maximum time period. If your Hyundai wipers show signs of needing replacement, please don’t wait until daylight savings time.

Here are some signs that your wipers need replacing

Streaking: If the wipers are leaving streaks on your windshield, this is usually caused by some kind of substance (road tar, tree sap, etc) stuck to the wiper. The substance may be removed, or you may need to replace the wiper.

Bouncing: “Bouncing” occurs when the wiper bounces along the windshield instead of making a clean arc. Usually this results when the wiper blade develops additional curve which can happen if it’s spent too much time parked against the windshield.

Worn Rubber or Split Rubber: Over time and use your Hyundai’s wipers blades will wear and lose rubber. As well, the rubber may split due to age and the ultraviolet rays of the sun. In this case the blades should be replaced.  Bent or Damaged Wiper Frame: Sometime due to ice scrapers, car washes, or just plain vandalism the actual wiper frame itself will get damaged. This is a definite replacement situation.

What to Know When Replacing Your Wiper Blades

To replace your Hyundai’s wiper blades, you need only know the make, model, and year of your vehicle. You can visit an auto parts store or take your car into your Lehigh Valley Hyundai dealership. The auto parts store should have a catalogue to let you know which make of wiper to purchase.

Wipers have three basic parts: the arm, the wiper which holds the blade, and the rubber blade itself. All three can be replaced, but often only the rubber blade needs to be replaced.

A final word on windshield wipers: while it is important to ensure your windshield wipers are in good condition, don’t forget the windshield fluid. This is also something we often don’t think of until we need it, but you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you need it but have run out.

How can you avoid common repair scams? One thing you can do is to ask to look at the work that was performed. Ask the Honda repair shop to show you what part of the car was worked on, and where the new part is located, if there is one.

Another good practice is to request to see the parts that have been replaced. In many states, repair shops are required to save any parts that were replaced and either give them to you or show them to you at your request.

You should also make sure to get a receipt that details the work that was done to your Honda. That way, if the same part breaks down in a couple of weeks, you have a strong case that shows that the part was supposed to have been replaced.

The best way to avoid auto repair scams is to have your repairs done at your local Lehigh Valley, PA Honda dealer, where certified mechanics stand behind their quality work.

Some of them include:

• Keeping a Clean Air Filter. Your air filter catches all of the dirt and dust that tries to get into your engine. Eventually, that stuff builds up and blocks the filter. Replace your air filter when it gets too dirty.
• Regular Battery Maintenance. From time to time, take a peek at your battery to make sure the casing is clean. Make sure the connectors aren’t eroded, and that there aren’t cracks or bulges. If you find corrosion, clean it with water, baking soda and a brush.
• Change Your Oil. You’ve heard it a million times: oil is your car’s life-blood. Over time, it breaks down. Follow your manual to know for sure how often to change your oil. Usually, that will be around every 3,000 miles.
• Maintain your tires. Make sure your tires have the right amount of air. Not only will it prolong the life of your car, it’ll help save money on gas.

If you require Honda maintenance in Lehigh Valley, PA, visit our dealer today.

Unfortunately, the posts on your Hyundai’s battery are a wonderful breeding ground for corrosion. This corrosion looks like a crusty white residue located around the posts. As this corrosion builds up over time, it can interfere with the connection to your battery.

There are a number of cleaning products for your Hyundai car battery. Each has its own particular features, but the important thing is that they help to get your battery terminals clean.

Generally speaking, you need to remove your battery terminals to get them clean of corrosion. You will use wrenches to remove the negative battery cable first, and then the positive cable. If a cable is stuck, you can use a screwdriver to help pry the terminal open.

Once the terminals are free, it’s time to clean them. Apply the recommended amount of cleaning solution on the posts and terminals. Use a small brush to get rid of any stubborn corrosion. Once they’re clean, rinse them off and reinstall them, starting with the positive side.

Think you might need a new battery?  Bring your car into your Lehigh Valley Hyundai car dealer today.

Squealing
If the brakes on your Hyundai vehicle squeal until you push on the brake, you have worn the pads down. The high-pitched squeal you hear is a little sensor that is designed to alert you so you know the pads have worn down and need to be changed.

Soft Braking
Soft braking refers to pushing on your brake pedal and having it go down before the brakes actually “kick in.” This is usually because of air bubbles in your brake line and can often be solved by bleeding the brakes. It could also be an indicator that you have a bad brake master cylinder.

Pulsating Brakes
When you push on your Hyundai brakes and they feel like they are pulsating, you probably have warped rotors. This can affect your stopping distance so it’s vital to have this checked.

These are just a few of the things that can go wrong with brakes. For more information or a complete checkup on your braking system, visit your Allentown Hyundai dealer today.

Wash the undercarriage
During the winter months, salt and stuff accumulates on the bottom side of your vehicle and it can cause rust, corrosion and other problems. Take your car to a car wash that offers undercarriage washing to get off those substances that can reduce the life of your car.

Check the tire pressure
Tire pressure changes when the temperature changes. In fact, the pressure could change as much as one pound for every square inch for every 10 degrees that the temperature changes. That is why it is important to keep an eye on the tire pressure when moving from the colder months to the summer months. While you’re at it, there’s no harm in rotating the tires, either.

Flush the cooling system
Flushing and filling your car’s cooling system helps rid any corrosion particles and dirt from the system. You can probably go without doing this if you did it at the beginning of the last spring season, but you should do it this year if it has not been done in a couple years.

Clean it out
During the colder months, it is difficult to keep the inside of your car clean because you do not want to spend time in the frigid temperatures. But now that it is getting warmer, take some pride in your car and make it look presentable. Give it a good vacuum and shampoo the carpets if you have not done it all winter. You will feel better driving around this summer  in a clean car!

Wipers Frozen to the Windshield
This is a common problem when you go out to your car the morning after a frigid night or after leaving work. Simply turning on the wipers won’t fix the problem, either. In fact, this can create more problems like a burned out motor or tearing the wiper blades. Instead, scrape off the ice and snow from your windshield until the wipers are free to move.

Frozen Door Locks
A frozen door lock can be a horrible start to your morning. You may have heard the advice to heat up your key with a lighter or a match and insert it into the lock to thaw it out. This is certainly one way to do it, but you can also get an empty toilet paper roll and place it over the lock. Then blow into the roll a few times to unfreeze the lock. This is simpler and you don’t risk melting your key!

These are just two of the numerous problems that can occur during the winter. You can still save yourself some trouble by getting your vehicle winterized now and avoid major problems for the rest of the season.

• Ask a lot of questions. Many people complain that auto repair shops always find something else wrong other than the reason for which the vehicle was brought in. But if the mechanic had to take parts of your vehicle apart to do repairs, he probably saw some other things that need repairs. If you are not comfortable with just telling him to fix it, ask a lot of questions. Is it absolutely necessary? How much will the new parts cost? Does the manufacturer recommend that I change this part based on my car’s mileage? Make sure you are satisfied with the answers before approving the extra repairs.

• Look closely at the bill. If there is something that doesn’t look right, ask the shop manager about it. Consider negotiating the price of the repairs if you think it is too high and always get an estimate before approving repairs. The repairs should not cost much more than the estimate and the repair shop should contact you for further approval otherwise.

• Shop around. You don’t always have to have a repair shop fix your vehicle just because you had them look at it. You can take your vehicle to other repair shops for other estimates. Don’t always pick the cheapest shop, but you can pick the one that gives you the best gut feeling.

Repair shops are not always “out to get you.” There are a few, however, that give the rest a bad name. Use your gut instinct and some common sense to find the best one for your auto repair needs.