Archive for the ‘Tips & Tricks’ Category

With Christmas only a few days away, many people in Omaha and Lincoln will be hitting the roads to head to Grandma’s house to celebrate the holidays. While this chilly time of the year brings to mind images of Christmas trees, hot chocolate and all things cozy and warm, driving during this winter season can be not only a nuisance but dangerous as well. To get you safe to Grandma’s house this year, here are some tips from Performance Auto:

• Do a double check of your car before leaving: If you’re going on a road trip, make sure your headlights are working and tires are properly inflated. Don’t forget to have your battery tested too. You don’t want to be stranded in cold weather with a dead car battery.
• Don’t drive with a dirty windshield: Dirt and salt buildup on your windshield can impair your vision and could lead to an accident. Clean your windshield before you leave home and replace old windshield wipers. Don’t forget to keep an ice scraper in your car too. Lastly, make sure you windshield washer fluid is topped off.
• Check road conditions prior to leaving: Check out the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s road closures and detours prior to leaving. If there are any changes to your route you can plan them out now before you leave rather than navigating unfamiliar roads.
• Don’t tailgate: Tailgating often leads to accidents, especially during winter. The rule of thumb is to leave one car length for every 10 mph you’re driving. It will take you longer to slow down the car in icy or snowy weather conditions, so stay far enough behind to avoid getting into a fender-bender.
• Store a winter travel safety kit in the car: Just in case you would get into an accident or have winter weather delay your arrival, keep some basics in the car with you. Include some water, snacks, first aid kit, flashlight, blanket, extra clothes, hats and mittens in the back seat because you never know when you might need it.
• Last but not least, take your time when driving in Nebraska. Lots of different weather can cause a delay in driving. Slow down on the roads during times of ice, snow, rain, wind and hail. While you’re anxious to get to your destination, take your time so you get there safely.

Remember also, if the weather gets worse while you’re driving and you think it’s too bad to continue driving, find a safe spot to pull over and wait awhile. Don’t feel bad if you make the smart decision to stay home when weather conditions are bad. You’d rather be tardy to the party and arrive in one piece then end up in an accident.

For information on how to avoid winter weather driving dangers check out about driving in ice and snow.

The Performance Auto Group wishes you a safe and happy holiday season!

Is it pouring outside? Did you just start a road trip? Running late for an office meeting? Well, you’ll probably get a flat tire – at least that’s what it seems like. Though flat tires always seem to occur at the most inconvenient times, a frustrating situation can go from bad to worse if you lack a solution to your deflated donut predicament.

For your safety (and sanity) it’s important to know the general procedure of changing a tire. Vehicle makes and models will obviously differ in tire-changing tools, but there are fundamental guidelines that everyone can follow.

My tip: Avoid this dreaded situation all together by checking the pressure of your tires every now and then. Things like nails, glass and shards of metal are sometimes harder to prepare for, however…

First things first – pull over to a safe location. “What was that? Did I hit a squirrel? Did my tire fall off?” No. When your steering starts to pull to one side and the ride gets bumpy, you’ve got a flat. Pull over to a safe (and ironically, flat) location, void of heavy traffic. You will need room to move around the car.

Prolonging the distance driven with a flat could cause further damage to your wheel, the hub and even the axle.

Grab your gear. After getting out, assessing the damage and probably spouting profanities under your breath, get to business. When you purchase your car, you should become familiar with the location of your spare and the tools that come along with it. You can usually find them around the trunk area. For most cars it’s under the trunk floor, but for SUVs, trucks and minivans, the tire’s usually mounted on/in the tailgate or underneath the car. Be sure to check your owner’s manual to be sure. The tire tool trifecta includes the spare, a jack and a lug wrench. You will need all of them. No more, no less.

Loosen the Lug Nuts.  Loosening these small-but-mighty metal guys can drive you…nuts.  It’s true.  Some mechanics tighten them too much, leaving you stressing and sweating when you are faced with a flat. The lug wrench should suffice, but a little extra elbow grease might be necessary. The key word in this step is “loosen” – don’t remove completely. That would make the next step much more difficult.

A word to the wise: lefty loosey, righty tighty…that means counterclockwise.

Jack it up. Use the provided jack and place it underneath the car next to the deflated tire. Find the “jack spot” (usually marked with two indentations) and use that as a location for the best leverage. The jack that comes with your car should get the job done. You only need to raise it high enough to allow the wheel to spin freely.

Remove and replace the dud. Once the bad tire is raised, completely remove the lugs by hand. Be sure to set them somewhere flat and in eyes’-sight so they don’t roll away. Remove the bad tire and set it back in the place of the spare. Affix the spare tire to the wheel studs, and screw on the lugs once again, beginning by hand and finishing the job with the lug wrench. A key note – you don’t want the lugs super tight. A “snug” lug is a safe lug.

Lower the wheel and clean up. Lower the vehicle back down completely with the jack and replace the tools where you found them. Make sure you didn’t overlook any small parts. When you get back on the road, be cautious – usually there is a maximum speed for spares. It’s usually written on the inside of the tire wall. Take a look at that before your drag race to the closest service shop.

You did it. It’s like it never even happened, right? Oh wait, there’s grease on your work shirt…

While we hope you never run into such an unfortunate dilemma, we are here to help if you do. Performance Auto and its 12 dealerships will gladly and efficiently take care of your tire troubles. As a sign of our dedication we’d like to offer you the following tire discount for the entire month of August, valid at any one of our dealerships in Omaha, Lincoln or Kansas City:

Print out this page with the coupon to receive the deal. Only one per customer, please.

Visit our dealership locator to find the shop closest to you.

Summer’s soaring temperatures can make driving a miserable experience if your vehicle’s air conditioner isn’t working correctly – especially if you live in or around the Midwest.  Before you get caught in a “hot” air conditioning dilemma, use these tips to make sure your vehicle’s A/C brings its “A” game to the summer heat battle.

Leave it to the professionals-

If you haven’t done so already, take your vehicle to have the A/C checked and serviced. These systems are complicated and it’s best to leave it to the professionals. (See the end of this post for a dealership discount offer*) During your A/C checkup, qualified technicians should check the temperature of the air coming from your vents. A system is considered “functional” if it can produce air inside your vehicle that is 50°F lower than the outside temperature.

The most likely source of trouble in your system…

The most common problem in A/C systems is a low level of refrigerant, which is usually caused by a small leak. This is why technicians also look for any leaks in your A/C system. If any problems are found during your vehicle’s A/C checkup, service individuals examine the refrigerant pressure in the system, repair any leaks and refill the refrigerant to the proper level. A regular A/C tune-up usually involves checking the vehicle’s belt, as well. When they’re done, you get to drive home in a nice, cool vehicle!

If any problems are found during your vehicle’s A/C checkup, service individuals examine the refrigerant pressure in the system, repair any leaks and refill the refrigerant to the proper level. When they’re done, you get to drive home in a nice, cool, refreshed ride!

You can’t afford to ignore!

Between your vehicle’s scheduled A/C checkups, you can use the following tips to keep your A/C running smoothly, and avoid costly repairs in the long run:

• In the winter months, turn on and run your A/C for at least 10 minutes once every month to prevent the hoses from hardening.
• Check the condenser. Clean off any dirt and debris that may be blocking airflow through it.
• Check the belt. Look for any wear and make sure it’s nice and tight.
• Check the air filter. Replace it if it’s dirty.
• Check the A/C operation when your vehicle is on:
  1. Listen for strange noises.
  2. Pay attention to whether or not the air is cold.
  3. Feel to see if the air is coming from the correct vents.

Performance Auto group has many certified technicians waiting to give your car an A/C pick-me-up. Visit out dealership locator to see which of our 13 locations is nearest to you!
*Currently, Performance Toyota of Lincoln has a complimentary A/C service check-up for all Toyota vehicles. Learn by viewing their Parts & Service Specials.

Information from www.carenginemaintenance.jimdo.com, www.cheap-auto-insurance-quotes.com and www.imakenews.com/lexusofomaha.

Blue is the new green – or at least that’s what Volkswagen is rolling with. The German automaker’s eco-friendly site, originally launched for Singapore, houses a bevy of eye catching, and money-saving, environment-related auto topics.

One particular highlight of the site is its interactivity, allowing the user to take virtual road trips and hear real “blue” stories from children who are simultaneously playing on a jungle gym, right on your computer screen. The most useful part of the site, however, is the page full ways to cut down your fuel emissions and save gas. There are eight realistic tips that can help you save money at the pump, and they aren’t tips that involve extra time or money, as illustrated with the websites phrase “Being efficient shouldn’t be a chore.”  Here are some of their suggestions:

1.    Just Roll with It

Take advantage of that little thing called “gravity.” While on a downhill gradient, if you coast in gear, you actually won’t use any fuel. So be aware when approaching red lights, stop signs or downhill roads – put that baby in gear and coast!  Doing so will activate the overrun fuel cutoff and save those precious drops of gas.

2.    Change Up Your Oil Routine

Using low-viscosity (thin) fuel can save up to 5% of your fuel consumption.  Thicker, high-viscosity oil takes a longer time to loosen up and lubricate your motor when it’s cold outside, whereas low-viscosity oil gets to work much faster.

3.    Push It into High Gear!

Driving in the highest gear possible can reduce fuel-consumption and noise. In the Volkswagen TDI and TSI models,  a surprising amount of hauling power is still available, even while doing rpm’s as low as 2,000. But the relationship between the highest gear and fuel-consumption applies to most vehicles. In the VW DSG, even though it’s an automatic transmission, the smart engine system selects the most efficient times to shift.

4.    Shed the Extra Pounds

…In your car, that is. Carrying around extra weight can lower your fuel-efficiency. So when you’re making daily trips to work, unload that trunk of unnecessary objects.

5.    Don’t Drive Like a Crazy Person

People who tend to drive more aggressively waste more gas than those who drive in a calm, relaxed manner. Extra application to the brakes, sporadic acceleration and deceleration won’t work to your advantage. If you have the opportunity, just mosey along with traffic and try not to use the brakes as much. Plus, you will probably have safer and more enjoyable trip.

6.    Don’t Let You Tires Look…Tired

Every month or so, quickly check the pressure of your tires. When they’re low it causes more rolling resistance and thus, more fuel consumption. Most towns have tons of gas stations with free air stations, so this maintenance can be convenient with little money out of your pocket.

7.    Take Some Off the Top

If you’re cruising around town with extra attachments on your vehicle, like a storage box or bike rack, definitely detach them when not in use. These objects cause heightened wind resistance and hike up your fuel consumption. Would you walk around in a backpack if there was nothing in it? Didn’t think so.

8.    Long Outings > Quick Trips

Completing more errands in one combined trip will save you time and money. Making multiple short trips wastes more fuel than one larger trip around town.  So wait until you have a few places to go so your engine warms up and uses less fuel, as your engine guzzles up more when it’s cold.

And an extra tip from your friends at Performance Auto…

9.    Feel the Fresh Air!

Air conditioning uses up more fuel than you’d think, especially when the system has to work hard in the blazing summer months. Roll those windows down and get a natural summer breeze flowing through your car instead. What better way to enjoy the “blue” earth around you? If the wind and humidity bother you, then give in to the heavenly A/C, but at least give the “windows down” option a whirl at the start of your trip.

These small tricks don’t require much extra effort- it’s merely a matter of being aware of your driving habits, vehicle appearance and maintenance. There may be a swarm of new vehicles that boast high fuel efficiency and environmental benefits, but it’s always nice to know that you, as a driver, can fill in where technology can’t to save money and our “blue” planet.

To have fun and learn more, visit the Volkswagen ‘think blue” website here.

Test driving a vehicle is a great way to find out if it’s a good fit for you. But do you know what to do and what to look for during your test drive?

When you come in for a test drive, you should bring along any family members who will regularly be sharing driving responsibilities or riding with you. You want to make sure the driver’s seat can be comfortably adjusted for all drivers and that each driver can comfortably and safely operate the vehicle. You also want to make sure your passengers are comfortable in their seats.

Before you begin your test drive, you should always check the vehicle over. Look for any scratches, paint chips or upholstery stains. You should also familiarize yourself with where the vehicle’s controls are.

Once you’ve inspected the vehicle and you’re ready to roll, follow these tips:

• Eliminate any distractions: If possible, do the test drive without the salesperson. This will allow you to fully concentrate on how the vehicle sounds and feels. If the dealership insists the salesperson joins you for the ride, don’t be afraid to ask him or her to remain silent.
• Don’t compare the test drive vehicle to your current vehicle:  Chances are that new gadgets and a different feel will make most new vehicles seem exciting and great in comparison to your current vehicle. Instead, compare the test drive vehicle to other new ones you have already driven or plan to drive.
• Look and listen for things you like and don’t like: Pay special attention to things you don’t like with the vehicle. Small annoyances can become bigger problems down the road.

While you’re on your test drive, you should pay extra attention to:

• Ride Comfort: How does the vehicle feel going over uneven surfaces? You should look for the vehicle to feel tight and controlled without feeling harsh.
• Acceleration: Make sure the engine provides adequate acceleration when starting from a complete and a partial stop.
• Braking: Really pay attention to how the vehicle responds to both gentle and forceful braking. With both types of braking, the vehicle should feel smooth and controlled.
• Steering and Handling: Make sure you’re comfortable with how the vehicle responds. It should be easy to maneuver on the road.
• Sound: Turn off the radio and close all the windows so you can hear what’s going on with the vehicle. Listen for any engine sounds, wind noise, road noise, squeaks and rattles.
• Visibility: How well can you see the road? Check the vehicle’s blind spots and the rear visibility when backing up.

If you like how the vehicle looks and feels during daylight hours, you should also test drive it at night. Test driving the same vehicle at night will allow you test the headlights and all illuminated gauges and controls.

Follow these test drive tips and trust your instincts — you’ll find yourself the perfect vehicle!