According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there are 5 common mistakes that parents make when they strap their children into the seat that is supposed to help keep them safe while riding in the car.  As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, we would like to encourage all parents to check and make sure they aren’t making these common mistakes and to participate in Child Seat Check Saturday on September 20^th.

1. Using the Wrong Harness Slot

One of the most common mistakes parents make is that they use the wrong slot for the harness straps in their child’s seat which results in the harness straps being either too high or too low.  Make sure you use the child safety seat owner’s manual to determine which harness slot is appropriate based on your individual child’s height, weight, and age.

2. Failure to Use the Harness Chest Clip Appropriately

The harness chest clip is a mechanism that clips the two straps of the harness that go over the shoulders together over the child’s chest.  The NHTSA found that many parents are positioning this harness clip over the abdomen instead of the chest or that they simply aren’t using this part of the safety seat at all.  In order to provide your child with the maximum amount of protection and to ensure the safety seat can perform adequately, this harness clip should be used every time and positioned over the chest.

3. Not Installing the Car Seat Appropriately

In order to protect your child in an accident, the car seat must be installed appropriately in the car.  This means using the car’s restraint system to tightly secure the car seat to the seat in the car.  If the car seat can move more than 1 inch from side to side after being secured with the seat belt, it is not installed properly.

4. Securing the Harness too Loosely

Another mistake parents make when buckling their child into a safety seat is that they leave the harness too loose.  When the harness is buckled appropriately using each of the attachment points including the harness chest clip, there should be no slack between the harness strap and the child.  If there is slack, the harness isn’t tight enough or it isn’t buckled properly.

5. Using the Seat Belt Incorrectly

All child safety seats use the car’s safety restraints or seat belts to secure the car seat in the vehicle.  Some use the safety belt to secure the seat only and rely on a safety harness to secure the child.  Others use the seat belt in conjunction with the safety seat to secure the child.  In both scenarios, it is critical that the seat belt be used correctly.  Refer to the owner’s manual for the car safety seat to ensure you are securing the seat and your child appropriately.

The best advice for all parents is to read the instructions that came with the car seat to ensure you are using it properly and bring your car to a local Child Safety Seat Check on Saturday September 20^th to ensure that your child is as safe as possible whenever they are a passenger in your car.

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The most important and best kind of care for your car is routine preventive maintenance. It can keep your car in good condition for years to come.

However, there is another important aspect of car care – washing and cleaning your car on a regular basis. After all, you don’t just want the inner workings of your car to in top condition. You want your car to look good and clean from the outside as well.

Why is it important to keep the exterior of your car clean always?

As you drive around on a daily basis, your car gets hit by dirt, dust, and all kinds of debris and contaminants such as bird poop, pollen, dust, leaves, gravel, and mud.

If you don’t clean your car regularly, over a period of time, these elements can settle on your car walls and dull the paint. Even a brand new car, if not cleaned regularly, can end up looking really dull and dirty.

Related Article – 3 Cleaning Tips for Car Seats and Upholstery

If you are considering selling your car somewhere down the line, you want to keep it in good condition both on the inside and the outside. (And even if you are not considering selling your car, driving a dirty car does not make for good optics!)

Without regular cleaning, the only option left would be to repaint your entire car. However, repainting a car does not come cheap. Washing your car on a regular basis and keeping it clean takes a little time and effort, but it is a far more cost-effective option compared to repainting your car.

Regular Car Washing is Integral to Routine Preventive Maintenance

Most car owners don’t consider washing or cleaning their car to be a part of preventive maintenance. For most people, car cleaning involves simply hosing their car down with water.

However, proper car cleaning is a detailed task – you need to wash and clean everything from the windows and body of the car to your tire hubs and treads. This kind of extensive cleaning involves a sponge, warm water, and soap.

If, however, you are hard pressed for time, you can simply drive down to your regular professional car wash and get the job done for anything between $10 and $20.

Regardless of what option you choose, what matters is that you keep your car clean at all times. This then brings us to the next important question –

How Often Should You Wash Your Car?

The best rule of thumb to follow is to never wait until it starts to actually look dirty. If you drive your car on a daily basis, washing your car once a week or once every two weeks is recommended.

However, if you drive on dirt roads or bad roads, then you might need to wash your car more often.

If you live in a hot desert climate or dry arid zone like Phoenix, Arizona; sand and dust can cover your car from the outside, it can clog the engine, and settle in the cracks and crevices of the car body.

Even if you live in a city with a more temperate climate, or if you live in a zone with cold freezing winters, the daily commute will expose your car to carbon contaminants or salt (which is often used to cover ice roads) – both of which can dull your car’s exterior appearance.

If it affects the paint, then the exposed metal will quickly form rust.

In each of these instances, washing your car on a weekly basis might be the best option. Not only will it keep your car clean but it can also help keep the paint intact for a longer period.

If however, you don’t use your car too often and keep it parked in a garage, it is best that you wash your car once every two weeks or at least once every three weeks.

Reliable Car Maintenance with Professional Auto Experts!

Are you looking for a reliable and professional car service for your car? If yes, you can visit us at Virginia Auto Service for professional maintenance service or for a speedy resolution to all your car troubles.

You can also reach us at 602-266-0200 or schedule a visit with us online at your convenience.

Routine maintenance is one of the best ways of ensuring your car runs smoothly and efficiently.

You probably have been reminded of this by your car service guy every time you take in your car.

We at Virginia Auto Service believe in this recommendation 100%. However, there are a few best practices which don’t always hold true for every single car. Here are some of the common myths about car care and maintenance that you should be aware of.

Don’t Fall for these Car Servicing Claims – They Might Not Be 100% True!

Some of the advice you hear from friends, family, and even service technicians who want to make a fast buck can be false. Which is why we have compiled a list of car servicing best practices that are false or not entirely correct. Read on to know more.

Always Use Premium Gas for Better Performance

Well, regular gas works just fine because it must meet stringent quality standards. So, if you are using 86 octane gas your car engine will run perfectly well.

• Unless your car manual states something different and you don’t own an expensive model or sports car, regular gas works perfectly.
• Cars that need premium gas usually have high performance and compression engines which tend to heat up a lot faster.
• Higher octane fuel is ideal for turbo charged engines which is why they come with protectants and cleaners and are engine knock resistant.

Air Filters Need to Be Replaced on a Routine Basis

Again, a false statement and the wrong advice. While air filters need regular replacements, the time frame depends on the driving conditions as well as the age of the car.

So, if you drive on bad roads, the filters should be replaced more often or if your car is old, then a replacement is often necessary.

• Ideally, air filters should be replaced or changed between 12,000 and 30,000 miles.
• It’s also important to know that, air filters can be cleaned during routine maintenance, so you might not have to go in for a replacement every single time.

Oil Changes Should Happen Every 3,000 Miles

Oil should be changed anywhere between 5,000 miles and 7,000 miles. Since the quality of oil as well as the engine design that most cars sport today are far more superior that what it used to be, there is no need for an oil change every 3,000 miles.

We would recommend you check your owner’s manual for a more accurate time frame specific to your car model but even then, your car should be able to go at least 5,000 miles before you need more oil and another filter.

DIY Car Maintenance Equals Routine Maintenance by a Professional Car Mechanic

• Car care knowledge is awesome and essential for every car owner. You never know when you might face car trouble. And if roadside assistance is not available, then knowing something about car repairs could save you a lot of trouble, time, and money.
• However, mechanics are required to undergo training which is far more complex and detailed.
• The kind of diagnostics, repairs, and fixes that your car undergoes during routine maintenance at a professional service station is far more detailed and complex than regular home/garage DIY maintenance.
• This is why taking your car for routine maintenance is essential for optimal performance and DIY maintenance rarely hits the mark.

Car Insurance Pays for Every Type of Repair Work

Yes, it does – If that is what is stated in your policy. The kind of coverage that you chose will be the determining factor in what kind of repairs your insurance company will pay for.

Our advice, before you decide to sign up for a policy, go over it carefully and see what items are listed or covered before you go ahead and make the selection.

Not Up to the Mark

Regardless of how comfortable and savvy you are about car repairs and maintenance work, it is difficult to match the kind of servicing that professional auto repair mechanics offer.

A simple tire change or topping off the car fluids is something that you can learn and do by yourself. However, complex engine repairs require professional expertise.

Reliable Car Maintenance with Professional Auto Experts!

Are you looking for a professional auto repair service for your car? Are you facing car trouble? Is your car in need of routine maintenance? If yes, give Virginia Auto Service a call today at 602-266-0200 or schedule a visit with us online.

Dropping temperatures can impact car performance in many ways. From starting problems, to dealing with dropping tire pressure, or even windshield wiper trouble – there are a host of winter-specific issues that can leave you frustrated.

Not to mention, you could end up with a massive dent in your budget.

The good news is you can avoid most of these issues by carrying out simple maintenance work on your car before winter sets in completely. Here are our top maintenance tips to get your car winter ready this season:

Schedule a Tune-up

One of the most important steps in getting your car winter ready is to have it serviced or tuned-up before winter sets in. A tune-up can prevent several common car troubles owners face; like rough idling, hard starts, and sluggish car performance.

Now, we know it doesn’t get that cold in the Phoenix area, but if you drive up to Flagstaff in the winter or even further north into colder states your car needs to be prepared.

Speak to your professional mechanic or auto repair service center about the tune-up and ask them about important preventive maintenance tips to keep your car in good running condition all through winter.

Check Your Tires

Tire pressure in cold weather can drop as the temperature drops. Here’s what happens:

• The pressure drop could be as much as one psi per 10 degrees Fahrenheit drop in outside temperature.
• Winter nights are much colder, so the pressure drop could be substantial by the time morning comes around.
• The best way to offset this issue is by routinely checking your tire pressure (at least once a month) and ensuring it is at the required psi.

Your local mechanic can help you in this regard. Or you could check the tire pressure yourself at a local gas station. In either case, the goal is to maintain consistent tire pressure. This way, you can effectively extend the life of your tires and make them winter ready.

In addition, have the depth of your tire treads checked if you are going to be driving on icy and/or wet roads. A prudent idea would be to switch to winter tires. Again, you can speak with your local mechanic or auto service center about this.

Check Your Antifreeze

Antifreeze is particularly critical during winter to prevent rust and corrosion and to maintain the fluid levels in cold weather. Upgrading your antifreeze could help your car run seamlessly even when outside temperatures fall below freezing levels.

Check Your Lights

When visibility falls, due to heavy snow or rain and particularly during icy cold winter nights, the role your car headlights and other signals play is crucial.

You need to have these in top working condition not just to see what’s ahead, but for other’s to be able to see your car approaching. So, it’s fundamental to have your headlights, brake lights, and signal lights inspected well before winter.

• You can check these lights by having someone else operating the lights in the driver seat while you check it from the outside.
• You could also check the lights in your rear-view mirror by parking in front of a reflective surface such as a store front.
• Of course, if you get a tune-up before winter, your mechanic or service center will check to make sure your lights work properly.

If any repairs or replacements are necessary, have them done immediately as it involves not only your safety but the safety of other drivers on the road.

Check Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers are in direct contact with harsh winter elements. This can lead to extensive wear and tear. If they need replacement, have it done before the weather changes.

Remember: Always make sure the windshield is free of snow and ice before you turn on the windshield wipers to prevent them and the windshield from sustaining damage.

Additional Winter Care Preventive Maintenance Tips

• Make sure to check your battery; if you are confident about checking it yourself go ahead. If not, it is better to have it checked by a professional mechanic.
• Check the different fluid levels and top them if necessary; again, if you can do this yourself, go ahead. If not, your local mechanic can help.
• Prepare a winter emergency kit in addition to your regular emergency kit. Unpredictable weather changes have become rather common in the last few years. Being prepared is better than being caught off-guard.

Things to include in your emergency winter kit:

• Blankets
• Water
• Energy food (high-calorie and high-energy bars)
• Gloves, boots
• Shovel, ice scraper, and sand (for slippery or wet roads)

Preparing Properly

Winter preventive maintenance can help you avoid common car troubles and help you better deal with the driving hazards of cold weather.

If you are unsure about any of the tips discussed above, it is best to consult with your local mechanic who will be able to further advise you and help get your car ready for winter.

Winter Maintenance with Auto Experts you can Trust!

If you are worried about winter maintenance for your car, give Virginia Auto Service a call today at 602-266-0200 or schedule a visit with us online at your convenience.

We always stress how important regular and proper maintenance is to the safety and longevity of your vehicle. However, over time, vehicle technologies have changed creating many myths and misconceptions about what this care should be.

Here are six common auto maintenance myths:

Myth 1: You can use dish soap or laundry detergent to wash your vehicle.

Fact: You should use soaps that are specifically designed to wash cars or bring your vehicle to a professional car wash. Household cleaning soaps will strip away your wax finish and cause your paint to fade or crack and peel.

Myth 2: Instead of using the AC, roll your windows down for optimal fuel efficiency.

Fact: Using the AC does cause your vehicle to use fuel faster than not using the AC. However, rolling down your windows isn’t really any better. When the windows are rolled down it increases wind resistance, counteracting the aerodynamic design of your vehicle. While overcoming this additional resistance, your vehicle will consume additional fuel that is almost the same as if your AC were on.

Myth 3: All vehicle’s need an oil change every 3,000 miles.

Fact: Older vehicles did require more frequent oil changes, usually at around every 3,000 miles. However, as engine technology has changed, this is no longer the rule. Some newer vehicles can go as long as 5,000 to 7,500 miles before an oil change is necessary. While you won’t harm your vehicle with more frequent changes, you can save yourself time and money if you are able to go longer between changes. The mileage recommendations for your specific vehicle model can be found in your owner’s manual.

Myth 4: Your tire pressure needs to match the PSI recommendation on its sidewall.

Fact: You should not fill your tire to the PSI number that is on the tire. This number is the maximum pressure that the tire can hold for safe driving. It is not the recommended number for best handling, fuel efficiency, or comfort. Usually, the ideal PSI for your vehicle can be found in your glove box, on a doorjamb sticker, or on the fuel-filler door. It can also be found in your owner’s manual. Underinflated or overinflated tires can cause damage to your tire, shortening its life dramatically. You should check your tire pressure at least once a month. When you check, make sure the tires are cool and have not recently driven.

Myth 5: Using premium fuel in any vehicle will improve how it operates.

Fact: If your vehicle’s owner’s manual doesn’t specifically state that you should be using premium fuel, then doing so won’t make a difference in how your vehicle performs. Using premium fuel in a vehicle that is designed for standard isn’t harmful, but why waste the extra money if it’s not necessary to do so? Remember, if your manual explicitly states that you need to use high-octane gas, then that is what you will have to do. Using standard fuel in a car that requires premium fuel can cause damage to the engine.

Myth 6: To keep your warranty active, maintenance must be performed at the dealership.

Fact: For your warranty to remain active you need to follow the maintenance schedule laid out in your owner’s manual. This maintenance can be done by your favorite local auto shop, it does not have to be performed at the dealership.

When it comes to the care of your vehicle you want the best. That is why you should call on the experts at Virginia Auto Service. Call us at 602-266-0200 or schedule your next appointment online.