Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Heat- It could be your car’s worst enemy!

Posted on: June 28th, 2012 by sara

           During the extreme summer temperatures most people really don’t think about what the weather is doing to their car. The heat and humidity plays a big role in how various systems and functions of a vehicle operate, such as fluids, belts, hoses, and even the tires.  The high temperatures will be of a higher risk to automobiles that are not properly maintained, or have had the routine maintenance put off maybe a little longer than they really should have.
 
            First thing to be sure of during the summer heat is to keep up on those oil changes.  Maybe you’ve put your oil change off a little longer than you should. Ok, no big deal right?  Wrong!  What happens as the temperature rises, the oil viscosity becomes lower, meaning the oil in you cars engine is thinner and not providing as much protection as when it is operating under normal circumstances.  So now that you have oil that isn’t as working as well as it should, combined with the fact that your overdue on that oil change, your heading for big trouble in the future.  Old broken down oil that no longer has the lubricity it needs to protect your engine will create higher friction in your engine, causing more heat.  All that on top of the heat outside will create big problems for your engines internal components.  So next time you say to yourself “Oh, I am only a few hundred miles overdue on my oil change”  we remind you, think twice, and assure yourself that it won’t cause you big problems in the future.
 
            Along with regular oil changes a knowledgeable auto repair facility should monitor regular maintenance items on your vehicle, such as belts and hoses.  These products constructed of mostly rubber are another area of an automobile that will require a little more attention during the months of higher temperatures.  The coolant hoses are more likely to expand and split during the extreme summer temperatures.  Your vehicles belts are constantly moving with the revolutions of the engine, so if your belts are older, or worn out there is a chance that they may have stress cracks in the rubber.  These tiny cracks will have a greater chance of splitting apart in the heat when the rubber gets very soft.  It’s a good idea to monitor them, and have them replaced at your manufacturers recommended intervals to avoid them breaking as you are driving down the road.
 
            Along with the belts comes another system run by a belt that we do not want to break in the summer, the air conditioning.  Our cars air conditioning system is greatly affected by the heat and humidity.  You may notice when it gets close to 100 degrees outside your air conditioning may not be as cold as it was when it was around 80 degrees.  Do not be alarmed if this happens, its just that the system can not work efficiently in the higher temperatures.  A few tips to get that air as cold as you can is if your car has the option to either re-circulate the air then you should use that. You will use the already cooler air in your car as opposed to drawing in the hot air from the outside of the vehicle.  Another tip to keep that car and the air conditioning cool is to keep the vehicle in motion.  As your vehicle travels you will keep air flowing thru the engine and the air conditioning systems condenser, making the system work more efficiently.
 
            Last, but certainly not least, the tires.  Maintaining your vehicles tire pressure is very important.  If you still have your tires filled with air, then the air will change pressures with different temperatures.  That being said you have to take into consideration the temperature of the pavement your driving on is higher than that of the temperature of the air.  With your tires constantly moving on hot pavement, it is making the pressure in the tires increase.  A great way to solve this problem is to have your tires inflated with Nitrogen instead of air.  Nitrogen is not as affected by temperature change as drastically as air is.  This helps keep your tire pressures closer to where they should be, and not greatly fluctuating with the temperature outside.
 
            Keep up on your vehicles regular maintenance and it will treat you much better when the temperature outside is harsh on you and your car.  A little preventative maintenance now will give you peace of mind when the weather becomes drastically hotter.  The last thing you would want is to be stranded on the side of the road in the heat with either an overheating car, or one that will not run at all.  You don’t want to be left without air conditioning when the temperatures are extremely high!

 

Finding the Right Shop is the MOST Important Step in Vehicle Maintenance

Posted on: June 20th, 2012 by sara

We all know how important it is to have a group of experienced professionals to rely on and trust. It’s not possible to know
everything, but it is possible to know people who know what you don’t. Those people and businesses become part of your team for success.

With advances in automotive technology and the need to use our vehicles with greater frequency, it is all the more important that to have a quality car care facility in your corner. Here is some information to consider when
choosing which company is right for you.

Clear communication is essential. It is crucial for your car care team to explain what does (and does not) need to be done so your vehicle runs properly. If people are armed with the right information, they can make the right decisions. A good company ensures that you will get the service you came in for. A great company will answer all your questions, deliver quality service
and make sure that you don’t pay for unneeded work.

Reputation is everything. There are many ways you can be sure that you are taking your vehicle to a company you can
trust.
• Ask friends and co-workers which mechanics they trust to work on their vehicle.
• Online resources such as angieslist.com and the Better Business Bureau are great places to see what other customers have to say about their experience.
• Build your trust with them gradually. Take your vehicle in for an oil change. A
good business will be thorough with the small jobs as well as the big ones.

Price is secondary to the quality of work.Using an independent shop is a great way to get more for your money. Independent shops usually have a much lower hourly rate and are more willing to work harder to pass savings on to their customers. With that said, it is important to use an independent shop that is not willing to compromise quality, employs certified technicians and is willing to
invest in the proper tools and technology.

Be loyal. One of the biggest mistakes that car owners make is going from facility to facility for their service. If you do this, you may find yourself forced to redo or fix work that was done elsewhere. This wastes time and money. By using a facility you can trust for all of your service, you know your work will be done right the first time. You can be confident that
no maintenance will be overlooked or duplicated, and you will get the most miles out of your vehicle. 

Sara Holtgrave (As published in 2012 Business Women magazine)

See the printable version of this article at: A_Foxfox

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems- Get in the know

Posted on: June 19th, 2012 by Admin

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems or TPMS is a feature that is common in vehicles today. For some of us it is a headache. For others it is an unknown. Here is a great link to educate yourself on TPMS technology. (Just click on the TPMS light below!)

Having a TPMS problem? Let us reset, replace, and service your TPMS. Don’t feel like reading through this link? We’ll be happy to answer vehicle related questions you have.

10 Things to Know Before Having Your Car Repaired

Posted on: May 19th, 2012 by Admin

1. Never drive a car that could be unsafe due to damages. Driving an unsafe vehicle to lead to further damage to you and to the vehicle. We will be happy to arrange for your car to be towed to Fox & Fox.

2. Visting a drive-in claims center is not necessary. Some insurance companies may want you to visit their drive-in claims center before having your car repaired. You may also leave your vehicle at our location and aks that the insurance company come to inspect the car. Fox & Fox works closely with all the major insurance companies.

3. You have the right to get as many comparision estimates as you like in order to help you make an informed choice about your collision repairs. As a consumer, it is nice to know that ther is no law that requires you to get more than one estimate or appraisal on your vehicle.

4. You have the the right to take your vehicle to the repair center of your choice. Your insurance company cannot require you go to a particular shop. Insurance companies will often recommend a qualified shop, including Fox & Fox.

5. Differences in repair estimates are common. A lower estimate may not include all the necessary work. If you are not sure why one estimate is different from another you have recieved, just ask one of our service writers.

6. Choose a repair center that has unibody repair equipment and certified technicians. All of our technicians have been ASE and I-Car trained to ensure that they are skilled in state of the art equipment and repairs.

7. Make sure you that choose a repair center that is able to do all your needed repairs. Fox & Fox has the advanced equipment and systems used to remove and install frame, suspension, engine and drive train components as well as other essential collision repair services. Many other mechanical and collision repair facilities bring work that they can not do to us. We take pride in being able to offer you complete quality repair.

8. Make sure that the collision center offers a warranty. Fox & Fox proudly stands by our repairs, allowing you peace of mind for as long as you own your vehicle.

9. Let us help you work with your insurance company. Fox & Fox works with virtually every auto insurance company. Our ability to work closely with your insurance company ensures a smooth and timely repair process.

10. Ask us to pre-arrange a rental car. Many collision, frame and body repairs take several days to repair. This allows us to help you have as little down time as possible. We work with Hertz and Enterprise to arrange a rental car on the spot, or our courtesy shuttle will take you directly to the rental center.

We have a blog!

Posted on: April 2nd, 2012 by Admin

That’s right folks! We have a blog! follow this link for more Fox and Fox facts, car related articles and more!

(Visit foxandfox.wordpress.com or Click on the picture below)