Safe Winter Driving – Winter driving can be hazardous and scary, especially in northern regions that get a lot of snow and ice. Additional preparations can help make a trip safer, or help motorists deal with an emergency. This sheet provides safety information for your residents to help prevent motor vehicle injuries due to winter storms.

The Three P’s of Safe Winter Driving:

» PREPARE

Maintain Your Car: Check battery, tire tread, and windshield wipers, keep your windows clear, put no-freeze fluid in the washer reservoir, and check your antifreeze.

Have On Hand: flashlight, jumper cables, abrasive material (sand, kitty litter, even floor mats), shovel, snow brush and ice scraper, warning devices (like flares) and blankets. For long trips, add food and water, medication and cell phone.

Stopped or Stalled? Stay with your car, don’t over exert, put bright markers on antenna or windows and shine dome light, and, if you run your car, clear exhaust pipe and run it just enough to stay warm.

Plan Your Route: Allow plenty of time (check the weather and leave early if necessary), be familiar with the maps/ directions, and let others know your route and arrival time.

Practice Cold Weather Driving!

• During daylight, rehearse maneuver slowly on the ice or snow in an empty lot
• Steer into a skid
• Know what your brakes will do: stomp on antilock brakes, pump non-antilock brakes
• Stopping distances are longer on watercovered ice and ice
• Don’t idle for a long time with the windows up or in an enclosed space

» PROTECT YOURSELF

• Buckle up and use child safety seats properly
• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag
• Children 12 and under are much safer in the back seat

» PREVENT CRASHES

• Drugs and alcohol never mix with driving
• Slow down and increase distances between cars
• Keep your eyes open for pedestrians walking in the road
• Avoid fatigue – Get plenty of rest before the trip, stop at least every three hours, and rotate drivers if possible
• If you are planning to drink, designate a sober driver

Safe Winter Driving – Consumer Auto Parts

Fall Car Care Includes Detailing

Winter takes a big toll on your automobile so it is important to maintain it. Fall is the perfect time of the year to prepare your automobile for the harsh winter months ahead. The salt used to de-ice the roads is known to cause damage to the exterior of your automobile so it is important to protect it. The best thing you can use to protect your car’s exterior is wax and sealant. Both can be found at your local Consumer Auto Parts.

Some other basic things to prepare you and your automobile for winter include an ice scraper, snow brush, winter wiper blades, and it is also a good idea to keep a flash light, blanket and anything else you would need if you were to get stranded somewhere.

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Fall Car Care Month

The fall season has arrived and that means car maintenance. October is known as fall car care month and it’s coming up fast. Be sure to check everything from your tires up to everything under the hood. Fall is the perfect time of the year for car maintenance especially if you have just gone through of summer of travelling and vacationing.  The fall season is perfect for car maintenance. It gives us all just enough time to prepare for the winter season ahead. Come down to your local Consumer Auto Parts to find what you need for fall car care month.

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Fall and Winter Car Maintenance

Fall is here and that means its time to prepare your vehicle for the harsh winter ahead. It is always a good idea to be proactive rather than reactive when the winter hits. The fall season gives us plenty of time to work on car maintenance so it is a good idea to start thinking about what needs to be done before winter. Listed below are some things to think about.

• Battery- Chances are that the battery in your car has already gone through a cold and harsh winter. The cold weather takes a toll on your battery so it may be a good idea to get a new one.
• Heating- Your heating system is a necessity for the cold months ahead. Not only to keep you warm, but also to make sure your defroster works on those cold mornings before you head to work.
• Wiper Blades- Its a good idea to check on your wiper blades. Heavy duty winter blades are available for your vehicle here at Consumer Auto Parts.
• Tires- Check to make sure your tires are all set for winter. Check the tire pressure and the tread depth. It may also be a good idea to think about winter tires as well.
• Brakes- It is a good idea to make sure your brakes are in good working condition before winter hits. Driving on snow and ice can be extremely dangerous and it is important to make sure your brakes can handle it.

Remember, it is always a good idea to prepare for the winter months far before they reach us. The fall season gives us the time to prepare for whats ahead. You can find most of what you need at a Consumer Auto Parts near you.

Do It Yourself Oil Change

Do It Yourself Oil Change. Getting an oil change at a garage can be expensive. You do not have to spend over $40 for an oil change when you can do it yourself. Before heading to your near by Consumer Auto Parts, consult your owner’s manual for the type and weight of oil specific to your vehicle.

1. Make sure your car is on level ground so you can safely jack up your car.

2. Locate the oil pan under your car and unscrew the drain plug to drain the old oil. Be sure you drain the oil into a recycling container so you can recycle the old oil at your nearest full service gas station, then replace the drain plug.

3. Locate your oil filter and use an oil filter wrench to remove the filter. Be careful as old oil will still be on the filter. Make sure the rubber gasket on the old filter comes off with the filter.

4. Lubricate the rubber gasket on the new filter, then fill the new oil filter about 2/3 with new oil.

5. Screw the new filter into place as tightly as you can without stripping the threads.

6. Pop your hood, remove the oil cap, and fill your engine with new oil using a filter. Use a dipstick to make sure you’ve added enough oil.

7. Put the oil cap back on and you are done!

Get Ready For Fall.. And Winter. Your vehicle may have taken a beating from the summer heat and summer road trips you have taken. Yet summer is fading away and it is a good idea to start preparing your vehicle for fall and eventually winter.

Wiper Blades
Fall is the perfect time of the year to replace your worn wiper blades. It may be a good idea to be prepared and purchase winter blades so you do not have to worry about it in the near future. Consumer Auto Parts has all types of wiper blades.

Under the Hood
Be sure to check and see if all your engine fluids are sufficient. Especially after a summer filled with road trips and vacations.

Engine Air Filter
Also, be sure to replace your engine’s air filter. When an air filter reaches the point where it causes enough of a pressure drop to restrict airflow, the car’s fuel economy, performance and emissions begin to deteriorate. So it is a good idea for a replacement in order for your car to be ready for the cold months ahead.

There are many other do it yourself projects you can do to help your vehicle perform its best for the fall and winter to come. Consumer Auto Parts carries all your vehicle needs so make your way down to a location near you!

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Back to School Car Tips. Whether you are a college student heading back to school, a high school student, or a parent of a student, there are many tips you should keep in mind for your vehicle during this busy part of the year.

Check vitals under your hood
It is important for you to check the levels of your engine oil, coolant and transmission, and brake and power steering fluid. Also, check on the date of your battery. If it is more than 3 years old, its important that you make sure its in good working condition.

Tires
Be sure that the tread on your tires is not worn down especially after a summer filled with road trips and vacations.

Lights
Make sure all of your lights are working as your lights are what allow other drivers to know your movements on the road.

Consumer Auto Parts Locations
If you are a student moving elsewhere in the New England area, there are Consumer Auto Parts locations everywhere. Also, if you are a parent of a son or daughter going back to school, let them know that Consumer Auto Parts will be close to where ever their school is through out New England. The following link will show all locations through out New England. 
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Car  Maintenance Tips. These basic car maintenance tips will help you keep your car in great running condition! In this post we will go over maintenance for your wheels and tires, engine, electrical, and your lights. The following information was found on carbibles.com.

Wheels and Tires
Be sure to clean off your brakes of brake dust.  If you leave it too long, the combination of road grime, moisture and heat from your brakes will bake it on to your wheels. You can clean it off using a damp sponge and water.

Also be sure to check your tire pressure as bad tire pressure can affect fuel economy, handling, and comfort. Be sure to also check your tire tread. Replacing tires is not as expensive as getting into an accident.

Engine
Be sure to check all of your engine’s belts. Rubber perishes in extreme conditions so it is a good idea to check on your timing belt every 25,000 miles and replace it every 50,000 miles.

Check your engine’s oil as well. You can do this by parking on level ground, and using your engine’s dipstick to check the level of oil. It is also important that you check your coolant level as well.

Electrical
If you are to do any electrical work on your car, you must make sure your battery is disconnected for safety reasons. It is important that you disconnect the negative side first because that is the electric current’s return path to the battery. Also, make sure that your battery terminal is clean because if it is dirty, it is making it harder for the current to pass around the electrical system.

Lights
If you turn on your blinker and it seems to flash much faster than usual, that means that your bulb has been blown. A replacement can be found here at Consumer Auto Parts. When you are replacing the bulb, be sure to not touch the bulb as the oil on our hands stays on the bulb which could heat it up more and cause it to crack.

Be Careful, It’s Hot

Be Careful, It’s Hot, If your car has been sitting in the summer heat all day, then chances are the inside of your car is going to be unbearable. Yet, there are accessories available for your vehicle that can help you with this common issue.

• Sun shades are useful to keep the interior of your car cool. Sun shades are placed in front your vehicles’s windshield to deflect the sun’s rays.
• Seat covers are also another helpful accessory to deal with the summer heat.
• A steering wheel cover may also be a huge help with fighting the summer heat.
• Air fresheners may also come in handy as sweat and dust can give your car unpleasant odors that could make it unbearable to sit in.Come visit your local Consumer Auto Parts and see what you can do to beat the summer heat.

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Summer Travel

Summer travel of course means vacation and vacation means travel. Make sure everything is in working condition for your travels. Also, be sure to be a smart and responsible driver.

• Plan, map and estimate the duration of your driving ahead of time and let others know your plans.
• Check the tires, including the spare – proper inflation and good tread can save money, time and lives.
• inspect the engine, battery, hoses, belts and fluids for wear and proper levels.  Check the A/C.
• Do a “once around” – test all the lights, wipers and clean the windows.
• Prepare an Emergency Roadside Kit, including jumper cables, a flashlight and plenty of bottled water.
• Don’t program your mobile GPS while you are driving.  Either have a passenger do it or stop in a safe place.
• Share the driving with other passengers to avoid fatigue.http://www.consumerautopartsonline.com/