A little bit of preventative maintenance will help keep your vehicle running properly, and you’ll avoid frustrating and costly breakdowns, too!

Use our handy checklist to keep your vehicle revving right year round:

	Heating and Air Conditioning: An improperly maintained system can make you lose your cool in any weather. Have your system checked by a qualified technician.
	Cooling System: Your cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled every 24 months-and the level, condition and concentration of the coolant should be checked frequently as well. In addition to these, your drive belts, clamps, and hoses should be checked periodically by a pro.
	Oil: Change your oil and filter as specified in your owner’s manual, and more often if you make frequent short trips, carry lots of luggage, or tow a trailer.
	Filters: Replace filters (air, fuel, PCV, etc.) as recommended – more frequently when driving in dusty conditions.
	Windshield Wipers: A dirty windshield causes eye fatigue and can pose a safety hazard. Replace worn blades and stock up on windshield solvent.
	Lights: Inspect all lights and replace any burned out bulbs. Periodically clean dirt and insects from all lenses. (To prevent scratching, never use a dry rag).
	Tires: Have your tires rotated about every 5,000 miles. Check your tire pressure once a month (let the tires cool down first). Don’t forget to check your spare and make sure your jack is in working condition. Examine your tires for tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping. Check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. You may need an alignment if there’s uneven tread wear or if your vehicle pulls to one side.
	Brakes: Inspect your brakes as recommended in your manual, or sooner if you notice pulsations, grabbing, noises, or longer stopping distance. Minor brake problems should be corrected promptly – before they become a major problem.
	Battery: The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. For routine care, scrape away corrosion from posts and cable connections, clean all surfaces, and re-tighten all connections. If battery caps are removable, check the fluid level monthly. Avoid contact with corrosive deposits and battery acid, and always wear eye protection and rubber gloves.
	Emergencies: Follow the Boy Scout motto and ‘Be Prepared!’ Always carry some basic tools – including a first-aid kit, flares, and a flashlight.

Source: AutoWeb
]]> http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/road-ready-vehicle-checklist/feed/ 0 aatireautoservice Road Check List Air Cooling Oil Filters Wipers Lights Tires Brakes Battery Emergencies http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/increasing-your-fuel-economy-tire-life-and-safety/ http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/increasing-your-fuel-economy-tire-life-and-safety/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:09:54 +0000 aatireautoservice http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/?p=55 ]]> Save Money, Your Tires, & the Environment

Properly inflated tires last longer, save gas, protect the environment…and your wallet, too! You’ve made a smart decision by choosing NitroFill for your tires. Tires filled with NitroFill maintain proper pressure and strength longer than tires filled with compressed air due to the absence of interior oxidation caused by the oxygen in compressed air. Tires that are properly inflated last much longer – NitroFill can help increase the life of your tires by as much as 25%!

Inflation Facts

Recent studies by the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration show that tire under-inflation is a rampant problem in the United States. According to NHSTA, a whopping 45% of car / SUV / light truck vehicles on the road have at least one tire that is 20% below the recommended tire pressure. Why does this matter? Based on only one under -inflated tire, this means that:

4.5 million additional replacement tires per year are purchased as a result of premature wear from the sole under-inflated tire. The number of incremental gallons of petroleum products required to manufacture the added replacement tires is 36 million gallons per year. As a result of under-inflation, 3.4 million gallons per day, or 1.24 BILLION gallons per year, are consumed.

Today, environmental concerns and saving money is more important than ever. By ensuring that your tires are checked for proper inflation at least every thirty days, you’ll lengthen the life of your tires, save gas, protect the environment from the effects of incremental tire waste, AND save money at the pump! It’s a minor step that will reap numerous benefits for yourself, your vehicle, and the world.

Source: NHSTA Government Survey

]]> http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/increasing-your-fuel-economy-tire-life-and-safety/feed/ 0 aatireautoservice Tire Dump Motor Oil Tire Dump http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/tire-trivia/ http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/tire-trivia/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:41:03 +0000 aatireautoservice http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/?p=49 ]]> Tire Trivia

Tires account for nearly 20% of total automotive ownership costs. Nitrogen comprises of over 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, so when you use NitroFill, there is no fear of introducing environmentally-harmful foreign gasses into the air. It takes about six months for a nitrogen inflated tire to lose a pound or two of pressure per square inch compared to just a few weeks for tires inflated with air.

Tires underinflated by 20% can reduce tire life by up to 50%. In a recent study, tires filled with nitrogen lasted 75% longer than tires filled with air. The United States currently produces over 250 million scrap tires each year. Tires in landfills release toxic oils which can contaminate groundwater. Burning tires for disposal releases harmful and toxic acidic fumes into the atmosphere. Large tire fires are almost impossible to extinguish and can burn for weeks. For every tank of gas your car burns, three times the weight of that fuel is being released into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases. Regular tune-ups can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by 5%. Fuel combustion is the leading cause of health damaging air pollutants like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. 83% of tire problems start with low air pressure. As many as 85% of Americans don’t check their tires on a regular basis. 50% of emergency road calls are in response to tire failures. Proper tire inflation can save 25,000 lives each year. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/nitrogen; http://tinyurl.com/dnl4tv ; http://tinyurl.com/c7ou6a; http://www.henry-davis.com/GMC/tireinfo.htm; http://www.nitrofillnow.com; http://tinyurl.com/d22n6b; http://tinyurl.com/dmfkjw)

]]> http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/tire-trivia/feed/ 0 aatireautoservice Tire Dump http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/do-you-have-nitrogen-in-your-tires/ http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/do-you-have-nitrogen-in-your-tires/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:30:51 +0000 aatireautoservice http://aatireautoservice.wordpress.com/?p=45 ]]> A&A Tire and Auto Service  Is now an Authorized dealer for Nitrofill

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Inflate with NitroFill™?
Compressed air is your tire’s worst enemy. Air is about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other. Nitrogen is inert, non combustible and non corrosive. Oxygen, on the other hand, is immensely destructive to rubber and other tire materials. As soon as a tire is manufactured and exposed to air, the effects of “oxidation” begin to deteriorate the rubber. Over time it loses its elasticity and strength, just like an old rubber band you’ve probably found around your home. This same process occurs in tires inflated with air as the oxygen attacks the rubber molecules, working from the inside out, until the oxygen, and its destructive properties, permeates the tire structure and ultimately the tread.

Is All Nitrogen Gas Equal?
No, the purity of nitrogen available from nitrogen generators generally ranges from 95% (low purity) to 99.9% (high purity). NitroFill™ generators can produce nitrogen in excess of 99.9% purity and provide the procedures to guarantee a minimum of 95% purity in the serviced tire, which is the minimum allowable purity that must be maintained in the tire to enjoy the benefits that nitrogen provides. Few generator manufacturers currently discuss this mandatory 95% threshold, as few are able to consistently provide the required purity to achieve it. But, as the market matures, your customer WILL learn –so don’t take chances with their safety or your reputation- fill them with NitroFill™ !

My Tires are Low! Now What?
Low tire pressure is generally due to one of the following three conditions:

1. A leak. Most tire leaks are the result of a hole or puncture, faulty valve, or a porous or corroded wheel.
2. Permeation. Permeation is the normal process by which the air in a tire bleeds through the tire’s body or carcass. It is typical for an “air” filled tire to lose 1-2 psi of pressure every month through normal permeation whereas it can take several months for a NitroFilled tire to lose a single pound of pressure.
3. Temperature Change. All gases expand and contract with temperature. If you live in an area that experiences dramatic temperature changes, you will have to adjust your tire pressure accordingly. Typically you will only have to adjust your tire pressure “up”, adding pressure as ambient temperatures decrease. Count on losing about 2% of your total tire pressure for every 10 degrees in temperature reduction.

Participating NitroFill™ dealers will always check and correct your tire pressure with NitroFill™ for free during your membership period, and we recommend you have this done every 30 days if possible, or as often as your schedule permits. If you have NitroFill™ in your tires and do not have a leak, you should experience little or no pressure loss from permeation, but may still see pressure loss from seasonal temperature changes. While it is best to visit your NitroFill™ dealer for a free top off, it is fine to correct your tire pressure with regular compressed air for these normal and minor events without diminishing the benefits of NitroFill nitrogen filled tires.

If you have a “flat” tire or a situation where most or all of the nitrogen in your tire has been lost, you can also fill it with regular air if necessary, but we encourage you to visit your NitroFill™ dealer as soon as possible to have the tire(s) purged and refilled with NitroFill™ so you can continue to enjoy the benefits this product provides.

If you are a member of the NitroFill™ Auto Club most flat tires caused from road hazards, including tires damaged beyond repair, are covered, as is roadside assistance if your flat or damaged tire has left you stranded.

Will NitroFill™ improve the performance of the Tire Pressure Monitoring System on my vehicle?
Yes. NitroFill™ will help maintain proper inflation in your tires and reduce the number of faults detected by the TPMS.

Do I still need to check tire pressure?
Yes. But, you will find the tire pressure to be more consistent, even during dramatic temperature changes.

Should I put NitroFill™ in my spare tire?
Absolutely! Your spare tire is the most neglected tire on your vehicle, and if you need it you certainly want it to be fully inflated. Because NitroFill™ dramatically slows the normal loss of pressure through permeation, your spare tire will hold its proper pressure over a much longer period of time than if it was filled with regular air.

Is NitroFill™ compatible with my internal tire balancing product [powder, beads, fluid]?
Absolutely, in fact, you couldn’t find a better operating environment for an internal tire balancing product than a tire filled with NitroFill™ , due to its dry, inert qualities.
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What do I do if I have to add air and NitroFill™ isn’t readily available?
Don’t worry about it. The addition of, or mixing with, normal air has no effect on your tire beyond the adverse effects you avoid by using NitroFill™ in the first place. If you ever have to add regular air, in any amount, simply return to your NitroFill™ dealer at your earliest convenience and have him purge and refill the tire with NitroFill™ .

Why haven’t tire stores offered nitrogen inflation before now?
In the past, the equipment needed to produce nitrogen was large and very expensive. The only alternative for stores was to use high-pressure nitrogen bottles which were also expensive and a safety hazard. Instead of using stored nitrogen, NitroFill™ takes advantage of new technology that allows nitrogen to be separated from air. This process is done economically under low pressure and results in highly pure nitrogen product and is incredible
–>
Is nitrogen a safety hazard?
No. Nitrogen is an inert, noncombustible, nonflammable, non-corrosive gas. In fact, those are big reasons why nitrogen is used to fill the tires of vehicles that push performance limits under extreme conditions, including Formula One racers and heavy machinery.

55% of vehicles have one under-inflated tire

A recent survey by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) shows that 55% of vehicles have at least one under-inflated tire and only one in six vehicles has four properly inflated tires.

The survey also reveals:

* 15% of vehicles have at least one tire under-inflated by 8 psi.

* 20% of vehicles have at least one tire under-inflated by 6 psi.

* 31% of vehicles have at least one tire under-inflated by 4 psi.

However, compared to a similar survey last year, “motorists showed some improvement in tire care habits,” according to RMA officials. “This year, almost twice as many vehicles had four properly inflated tires as had last year.”

The RMA’s National Tire Safety Week starts on June 6.

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Are You Ready For The Road?

An average of 13,000 Americans are killed between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day, some as a result of unperformed vehicle maintenance, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each year, neglected maintenance leads to more than 2,600 deaths, nearly 100,000 disabling injuries and more than $2 billion in lost wages, medical expenses and property damage.

Most mechanical failures can be traced to neglected maintenance. For example, the U. S. Department of Transportation reports the leading cause of mechanical breakdown on our nation’s highways is overheating, a condition that is easily avoidable. Other deficiencies that are simple to detect include low antifreeze/coolant, worn or loose drive belts and defective cooling system hoses.

Checking tire pressure and inflating a tire costs nothing, yet an average of 21 percent of cars inspected in check lanes during National Car Care Month have under inflated tires. This can lead to a blowout and a serious accident.

Fuel Saving Tips

The Car Care Council offers these fuel-saving tips:

1. Vehicle gas caps — About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
2. Under inflated tires — When tires aren’t inflated properly it’s like driving with the parking brake on and can cost a mile or two per gallon.
3. Worn spark plugs — A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat and electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced as recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Dirty air filters — An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a “rich” mixture — too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, saving about 20 cents a gallon.

Fuel-saving driving tips include:

• Don’t be an aggressive driver — Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets, which results in 10 to 66 cents per gallon.
• Avoid excessive idling — Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the vehicle warm up for one to two minutes is sufficient.
• Observe the speed limit — Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mpg driven over 60 will result in an additional 10 cents per gallon. To maintain a constant speed on the highway, cruise control is recommended.

WIPERS – In the 2001National Car Care Month vehicle check lanes, 21percent of participants had wipers that smeared, streaked or chattered across their windshields. Although climates vary, wipers generally need replacing every six months. An easy reminder is to change wiper blades in the spring and fall when you change your clock. Be sure the windshield washers are working properly, too, and keep the reservoir filled with solvent.

LIGHTING – Another important pre-trip check should be exterior and interior lighting. Vehicle check lanes revealed an overall failure rate of over 25 percent in the lighting category. The Car Care Council reminds motorists to check their lights monthly. Other suggestions from the Council include turning on headlights both day and night. This helps define your cars position on the road, and its distance from other drivers. When your vehicle’s lighting is defective, other motorists may not get the message that you intend to stop or turn. The end result could be disastrous.

10 Minute Pre-Trip Checkup Can Pay Off

Car Care Council offers three suggestions for a traveler’s 10-minute pre-trip checklist:

• Check all fluids. There are several fluids, in addition to antifreeze, that require attention, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids and windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
• Check hoses and belts. A belt that fails can affect the electrical system, air conditioning and power steering, as well as the cooling system. Cooling system hoses may be deteriorating from within, so old hoses and clamps in marginal condition might need to be replaced.
• Check the tires. Check tire inflation and inspect the tread for uneven wear, indicating the need for wheel alignment. Also look for bulges and bald spots.

“While a last minute checkup is better than no checkup, motorists should plan ahead to allow time to perform necessary maintenance themselves or at the local service facility. A properly maintained vehicle is safer and more dependable and will even save a few dollars at the gas pumps,” said the Car Care Council’s Executive Director, Rich White.

Not only can a pre-trip inspection help reduce chances of costly and possibly dangerous road trouble, it also provides an opportunity to have repairs made at home, with one’s own technician who knows the vehicle. Especially important, it provides peace of mind. While no inspection can guarantee a car’s performance, it’s comforting to know proper precautions were taken.

Helpful Stats & Information (VIN Decoder)

Want to know if your car is the subject of an ongoing defect investigation? Check out the latest information on compliance testing, recalls and technical service bulletins from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Vehicle Identification Number commonly found inside the windshield or door jam, can be used to verify vehicle information such as body style, engine, drivetrain, transmission, as well as year, make, model, sub-model information.

This VIN decoder contains information for vehicles dating from 1981 – 2004, and includes all major makes and models of import and domestic passenger cars, sports cars, light trucks, SUV’s and vans, representing 99.8 percent of all vehicles on the road. Enter the complete 17-character VIN number, or at a minimum, the first 10 characters of the VIN number, and press Submit for the complete vehicle configuration.

VIN Decoder: http://www.carcare.org/vin

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Today’s cars, light trucks, and sport-utility vehicles are high-tech marvels with digital dashboards, oxygen sensors, electronic computers, unibody construction, and more. They run better, longer, and more efficiently than models of years past.

But when it comes to repairs, some things stay the same. The following tips should help you along the way:

Do your homework before taking your vehicle in for repairs or service.

• Read the owner’s manual to learn about the vehicle’s systems and components.
• Follow the recommended service schedules.
• Keep a log of all repairs and service.

When you think about it, you know your car better than anyone else. You drive it every day and know how it feels and sounds when everything is right. So don’t ignore its warning signals.

Use all of your senses to inspect your car frequently. Check for:

• Unusual sounds, odors, drips, leaks, smoke, warning lights, gauge readings.
• Changes in acceleration, engine performance, gas mileage, fluid levels.
• Worn tires, belts, hoses.
• Problems in handling, braking, steering, vibrations.
• Note when the problem occurs.
• Is it constant or periodic?
• When the vehicle is cold or after the engine has warmed up?
• At all speeds? Only under acceleration? During braking? When shifting?
• When did the problem first start?

Once you are at our location, communicate your findings.

• Be prepared to describe the symptoms.
• Carry a written list of the symptoms that you can give us.
• Resist the temptation to suggest a specific course of repair. Just as you would with your physician, tell us where it hurts and how long it’s been that way, but let the technician diagnose and recommend a remedy.

Stay involved. . . Ask questions.

• Ask as many questions as you need. Do not be embarrassed to request lay definitions.
• Don’t rush the technician to make an on-the-spot diagnosis. You may ask to be called and apprised of the problem, course of action, and costs before work begins.
• Before you leave, be sure you understand all shop policies regarding labor rates, guarantees, and acceptable methods of payment.
• Leave a telephone number where you can be called.

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