Today we're going to go over a few MUST KNOW "How To's" for every savvy gal on the road.  As a matter of fact, this guide is good for anyone who has a set of wheels...

1.  How to Check the Oil

The first thing you need to know is where to find the oil. The cap on the oil tank may be a little tricky, it is more pull than twist, but you can get it off. It is also important to know which type of oil your car takes, and how to add some oil if you needed to do that on your own.

 

Also find out where the air filter is, if it is accessible. It is cheaper to change your own air filter before a serviced oil change than it is to purchase an air filter

 

2.  How to Check the Transmission Fluid

One important car maintenance task that women should definitely know how to do is to check their transmission fluid. Unless there is a problem, or your car is older, you may not actually have to ever add your own transmission fluid. It is still important to know where it is under the hood, and how to add transmission fluid. Also know which type of transmission fluid to use.

 

3. How to Check the Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is another one of those things we never think about. Have someone show you where it is and how to check it.

 

4. How to Change a Tire

Do you know how to change a tire? While you may never actually have to change your own tire, especially if you have Triple A or don't travel too far off the beaten path, it is still nice to know how to change a tire. Also find out the correct tire pressure for your tires, and how to check the pressure, and add air when needed.

Come by the shop and we'd be happy to show you how to do all of the above...
Knowing how to do basic tasks and car maintenance can make women feel more empowered, and secure when driving.

 

Ok, not every girl needs to know how to tune up her car's engine. Heck, some of us don't even know that we need to tune our car's engine. Nonetheless, here are three basic components of car maintenance that every girl SHOULD know before she hits the road.

This guide will help you know what things to keep an eye on. You won't be able to fix everything that can go wrong, but at least you'll know that something is wrong and will know when you need to seek help.  At Grand Prix, we're committed to being a place that a girl feels comfortable walking into.  You will be treated just as we would want our own mothers, sisters, daughters and wives to be treated- with respect!  Ok, now onto the good stuff...

1) First things first, a girl should know how to check her tire pressure. It's one of the easiest parts of car maintenance but can make a huge difference in how your car performs. Your tires will last longer, and function to their maximum potential, you will save gas and therefore help the environment, you will have less wear and tear on your engine (saving you money long term) and just be all around safer if your tires are aired up correctly.  Believe me; no girl wants to experience a tire blow out on a major interstate just because she drove on over or under inflated tires.

For a few dollars you can buy a basic tire pressure gauge.  Once you have your tire gauge in hand, unscrew the valve stem cap on your tire (it's the little short thing that sticks out by the wheel). Now press the end of the gauge over the end of your valve stem. As you do, you'll hear a little air escaping the tire. It's ok as long as you move quickly. When you have the gauge positioned right, the stick inside it will pop out indicating your tire pressure. The last number visible (the one closest to being hidden) is your pressure. Most car manufacturers have the recommended psi on the inside of the driver's side door jamb.  If you are having trouble, come by Grand Prix, and we'd be happy to do it for you.


2) Another important part of car maintenance every girl should know about is engine temperature. Some cars have a gauge in the dashboard. If your car does, look at it occasionally while you're driving around. Now you'll have an idea what the gauge normally shows. If it goes a lot closer to the hot side than normal, give us a call or just come by the shop so we can take a look for you.

If you don't have that temperature gauge, don't panic. Some cars have a light in the dash that only lights up when the temperature has gone too high. If that light comes on and doesn't turn off, you'll know that it's time to look for help. Don't drive an overheated car. It can cause expensive damage. Under no circumstance, should you raise the hood on a car that has overheated and has steam pouring out of it! That's just asking to get burned.

3) Finally, this would be a very sorry guide to car maintenance if we didn't tell you that every girl should know to take care of her normally scheduled car maintenance. That means, every 5,000 miles or so (every car is different so check your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommendation), you should plan on taking your car in for an oil change.  Did you know that we can do that for you at Grand Prix?  Anywho...Once you're in the shop, we can do a once over to make sure everything is in tip-top shape.

Following this guide won't guarantee that nothing ever goes wrong with your car. No one can make that promise. Taking care of these basic car maintenance issues will, however, go a long way towards guarding against surprise breakdowns. And every girl likes that!

Stay tuned for more helpful tips...

Since it seems the rain may never stop here in Southern California, we figured you might be up for some more safety tips while driving out there in these crazy conditions.  So here you go. 
Part Two of our Rainy Day Driving Tips:
1) Sloooooooow Dooooooown!  It takes longer to stop in wet weather.  Take your time so that you can avoid hydroplaning.  In the event that you do hydroplane, follow these steps-  first, take your foot off of the gas, and DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT stomp on the brakes. Instead, if you have a manual transmission, push in the clutch and let the car slow down on its own. If you drive an automatic, hold the steering wheel steady and lightly apply the brakes.
2) Avoid puddles whenever possible, but if you must drive slowly especially when you aren't sure how deep it is.
3) If you see moving water ahead of you, do not proceed if you aren't able to see the road beneath it.  You could easily get swept right off the road!
4) Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you.
5) Replace old wiper blades.  It's an easy and inexpensive way to make your vehicle so much safer.  Also remember to keep your washer fluid topped off.
6) And please avoid splashing pedestrians!



Be cautious, be smart and take your time.  Give us a call if you have any concerns or questions about your vehicle's safety.  Be safe friends!!

Getting your car serviced regularly is one of the most important things you can do to minimize emissions and maximize fuel efficiency.

Regular service can spot lots of problems that reduce gas mileage and increase pollution, such as a broken thermostat, low transmission fluid, sticky brake calipers--or even something as simple as a dirty air filter.

If you can't remember when the last time was you had your car serviced, take it in. In extreme situations, you might increase your mileage by up to 10 percent. So what? Well, if you drove 20,000 miles a year, you would save $145--enough to cover the cost of the service and then some!

Did you make your Automotive New Year's Resolutions?

#1 Check tire pressure

#2 Rotate tires if you’ve been putting it off

#3 Update your look with a new set of “shoes”

Give us call to discuss how to get your vehicle in good shape for the year ahead!

Short trips of less than 10 minutes can be particularly hard on a car, resulting in excessive wear and tear. During a short trip, your car's engine never has a chance to reach its full operating temperature.

So what? Here's why it matters: One of the byproducts of engine combustion is water. When an engine reaches its operating temperature that water turns to vapor and is expunged, either out the tailpipe or the crankcase ventilation system. On a short trip, however, that water stays inside your car's engine and exhaust. Unfortunately, water is one of only three ingredients necessary to make rust (you've already got the other two, oxygen and metal), and rust kills.

A further complication of condensation and water is that it dilutes your oil, which then does a poorer job of lubricating the engine. If you can't avoid taking lots of short trips, we recommend you change your oil frequently, such as every 2,000-3,000 miles.

Sure, we know that tires rotate, but we're talking about another kind of rotation — rotating tires to different corners of the car and maybe even reversing the direction in which they turn.

Many tires are rotated front-to-back and side-to-side, but some tires are directional, which means they're only supposed to turn in one direction. They have to stay on the same side of the car. Directional tires often have arrows on the tire's sidewall to show you the direction in which they should turn.

If you're not sure which kind of tires you have, check with us at Grand Prix when we service your vehicle.  And we gladly offer free tire rotation to our customers!

Keep your gas tank close to full..especially in the winter.

In the winter, if you do get stuck or stranded, the engine will be your only source of heat. And you don’t want to have to worry about conserving fuel and saving the planet right at that moment...you want to stay warm. You can run the engine indefinitely at idle to stay warm-or as long as you have gas. No harm will be done to the engine.

 

Make sure your battery and charging system are up to snuff.

You need to have us check the battery, charging system, and belts. Your battery can leave you stranded simply because it’s old and lousy. Or it could leave you stranded because your charging system isn’t working well, and the battery isn’t getting charged properly. So have your mechanic check the battery and charging system.

If you find that you need a new battery, get the biggest, meanest, ugliest battery that will fit in your car. Two things to remember about batteries: First, the battery that started your car easily in the summer may not have enough oomph to do it in winter. In winter, the engine is harder to start, because the oil isn’t as “fluid” as it was last July. And secondly, batteries lose power as the temperature drops (you remember your high school chem- istry, right?). So not only do you need MORE power to start the engine in winter, you also get LESS power from the same battery.

Batteries are rated by a measure called “cold cranking amps” (CCA), the maximum number of amps that the battery can deliver at zero degrees (F) for 30 seconds. Good, powerful batteries are rated at or above 600 CCA. We’ve never really liked this CCA rating because some batteries rated at 600 CCA can just barely make the 30-second criterion, and some can pump it out much longer - clearly better batteries. Along came our pals at Consumer Reports. When they rate batteries, they do the CCA test and report how long the battery puts out the 600 amps. Great, says us. So take a look at their ratings for the lowdown.