Grand Prix Performance - Costa Mesa, CA

It is an extremely important maintenance duty that extends the life of your tires and ensures safe driving and it is quite important to know the importance of rotating your tires.

 

Front And Rear Tires Wear Differently

All that parallel parking. All those three-point turns. With each turn of the steering wheel, pressure is brought to bear on the front tires. (This is even more accentuated in front-wheel-drive cars, where the front wheels also supply the main motive power for the vehicle.) Resistance causes friction, which in turn produces heat. The result? The front tires wear quicker than the rears. Because of this, it's necessary to rotate the tires front-to-rear several times during their life cycle to 1) equalize tread wear and 2) maximize the life of the tires. This is what we refer to when we say "rotate the tires." Rotating generally does not refer to either of the following actions:

• Exchanging tires on the same axle — for example, swapping the rear tires left to right
• Criss-crossing tires — moving a tire from the passenger's side rear to the driver's side front. There's a good reason for this. Tires develop wear patterns as they age. Some of these patterns are tied to the suspension system and the alignment. That's why we keep the tires on the same side of the car.

Remember, this quick and simple procedure will extend the tread life of your tires. It will also provide maximum gripping power to the vehicle. It should be done roughly every 5,000 to 10,000 miles.

Folks, its about time to finally check 'Tire Rotation' off your 2012 to-do list. No one does it faster and more efficiently than Grand Prix.

Car batteries are an essential component to the overall performance of your car. The next time you bring your car in for maintenance, ask us to perform a battery test. If there is a problem, we will be able to suggest a new battery that will best fit your automobile and driving conditions.
Chances are good that you will experience a battery problem at some point. This is why it is always good to keep a pair of jumper cables in the car. Remember to connect the positive terminals first in both cars and to avoid touching the leads to any other surface. Negative leads may be connected to the car’s chassis or the negative terminal on the battery. Make sure the car with the charged battery is running before starting the car with the drained battery.
After you’ve successfully started your vehicle, be sure to drive it on the road to ensure a good charge. If you have any doubts about your battery’s condition at all, be sure to check its condition or obtain a replacement right away.

With the fall season in full force and the winter season creeping in, it is important that we remember to pay attention to our wiper blades. Many wiper blades are causing drivers more harm than good by smearing when used or making a screeching noise that can sound like nails on a chalkboard. The problem is that many people overlook replacing their wiper blades, or go for the cheap version assuming they are all the same. Wiper blades are one of the easiest installations and least expensive.
However, not all blades are created equal, and you truly do get what you pay for. This is a component on your car that you should spend the extra dollar on to ensure a quality product. It isn’t much more expensive to go for the higher quality wiper blades and it will provide you with the peace of mind that your visibility won’t be hindered.
At the annual checkup held by the Car Care Council, almost 15% of vehicles on the road had wiper blades that required replacement. Is your vehicle one of those?  Bring your car into Grand Prix Performance and we’ll make sure you’re in good shape and won’t have any wiper blade troubles.

Not many people are aware that fuel injectors are extremely critical components that keep your car running smoothly. It is important that you keep them clean so that your fuel ignites easier and burns more evenly and efficiently. Not only does this save you money by improving your gas mileage, but it increases your horsepower. Vehicle fuel systems are generally very clean because today’s gasoline is designed for fuel injection and there are filters in the system that trap a bulk on unwanted dirt. However, it is still common for dirt to get past the filters and form a gummy residue. Symptoms that could indicate you have dirty fuel injectors include hard starting, rough idle, poor overall performance, and decreased gas mileage. These symptoms can be quickly resolved with proper fuel injector maintenance. It is recommended that injectors get cleaned at least every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Consider a tune up for your fuel system because it will dramatically improve your fuel efficiency and increase your horsepower.

If you put just a little bit of time and energy into caring for your tires, they can keep you safe, save you money and make driving smoother.  If you don’t take care of your tires, you could be at risk for problems to occur.

Rotating your tires

-Makes them wear evenly since front and rear tires react to the road differently

-Have us check the balance and alignment 

-We will give you a clean bill of health or recommend adjustments

Check your tire pressure

-Proper tire pressure requirements are shown on the side wall of your tires

-Best thing to do is bring your car in for a tire check-up and inflation

Road hazards

-In a busy place like Orange County, debris in the road can damage your tires

-Drive carefully and avoid objects on the road

-If you hit something, have your tires checked for damage

-Chunks of tread, damaged tread or sidewalls can suddenly blow out the tire if you do not take -proper care of them

Don’t ever plug your tires

-You would be amazed at how many people think a $20 plug keeps them safe

-High-speed, freeway driving is a plug’s worst enemy.  We recommend getting a new tire -instead of a plug.

-Never get a tire plug in a sidewall.

When to replace your tires

-Most states have a tread depth minimum for getting your car inspected

-Since 1968, Federal law has required a built-in 2/32 inch bar to show you the minimum

-The time it takes to stop on a wet road can double when your tires have this minimum tread depth

-Consumer report recommends 4/32 inch

1

Keep your tires rotated routinely. Rotating your tires can have many benefits, including good gas mileage and improved overall performance of your car. You can improve the life of your tires by getting them rotated. Not rotating your tires can wear the tread unevenly, and you could be in our shop sooner than expected, not that we don't love to see you... It is recommended that you rotate your tires at least every 5,000 miles or so.  We offer free rotation to our customers!

2

Avoid traveling back roads and dirt roads unless you really have to. This often leads to tire puncture and expedited tire wear. If you have to travel a back or dirt road often, it is recommended that you get a better tire for your travel or keep your tires rotated frequently in order to even out the wear of such travel. Off-road travel and mud riding should be avoided; this activity is harsh on tires.

3

Maintain the required tire pressure. Maintaining your recommended tire pressure can really improve your gas mileage and maintain overall vehicle performance. Not maintaining recommended tire pressure can lead to poor tire wear and may possibly cause a blow-out, especially with tires that have experienced excessive wear.

4

Consult your owner's manual about recommended tire pressure, and ask us to check your tire pressure when you get your oil changed. 

5

Follow the recommendations on tire inflation for your car, which you'll find in your owner's manual, on the inside of the driver's door or on the glove-compartment lid. (Never fill the tire to the maximum inflation rate listed on the tire itself.)

In the summer, you can take a chance and run down to fumes. But 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.

By the way, if you have an old jalopy, we suggest you crack open the window a bit if you are going to be idling the engine. Old jalopies are more likely to suffer from exhaust leaks and rust holes. This may not be a problem while you're driving because the wind is removing the exhaust as you move forward; but if you're sitting for a long time while carbon monoxide is slowly leaking into the passenger compartment, well, we could lose you...

Finally, if you are pulled over and stopped in the midst of a humungous snowstorm, be sure to get out periodically and remove snow from behind the tailpipe to keep it unobstructed.

Low coolant level will cause engine overheating, which may cause serious damage to the engine. How to check the engine coolant level:  The coolant level should be between "LOW" and "FULL" marks in the coolant overflow tank as in the picture. If it's lower, top it up. If there is no coolant in overflow tank or you have to top it up quite often, have your car inspected in the garage, possibly there is a coolant leak. Never open the radiator or coolant overflow tank when the engine is hot!

When engine temperature is reduced (few minutes after the engine has been turned off) , simply add a coolant into the overflow tank to "FULL" mark.

Low coolant level will cause engine overheating, which may cause serious damage to the engine. How to check the engine coolant level:  The coolant level should be between "LOW" and "FULL" marks in the coolant overflow tank as in the picture. If it's lower, top it up. If there is no coolant in overflow tank or you have to top it up quite often, have your car inspected in the garage, possibly there is a coolant leak. Never open the radiator or coolant overflow tank when the engine is hot!

When engine temperature is reduced (few minutes after the engine has been turned off) , simply add a coolant into the overflow tank to "FULL" mark.

Place your car at a level surface and engage the parking brake. Start the engine. Set transmission shifter in "P" (Park) position, and let the engine idle (on some cars this procedure may be different, check the owners' manual for details). Pull the transmission dipstick. Check your owners manual to find where transmission dipstick is located in your car.

Wipe it off with a clean lint free rag. Then insert it back carefully all the way down into its place.

Pull again and check the fluid level. If the engine is cold, it should be within "COLD" marks. If the car was driven and is fully warmed up, the level should be at the upper end of the "HOT" mark. If it's just a little bit lower I wouldn't worry about it. Otherwise I'd top it up. Check the fluid condition also: If it's too black and dirty with burnt smell - your transmission is not going to last. Normally it should be clean and transparent, as in the image. The new fluid comes red. Over the time it becomes brownish. If it is brown, check your owner's manual, may be it's time to change it. Some manufacturers require to change the transmission fluid at 30,000 or 50,000 miles others specify that you never have to change it - check what's your car owner's manual says.

How to top up the transmission fluid: It's very important to use only specified transmission fluid - check your owners manual. Incorrect transmission fluid can even destroy the transmission. Add a small amount of the fluid through the dipstick pipe as shown in the image. Wait for a few minutes - let the fluid to flow down. Recheck the level again. Do not overfill, it also may cause problems with your transmission.