03-16-15

Car Hack: Getting Rid Of Pesky Rats In Your Engine

Trouble with parking outdoors? Often when parking outside, the warmth of your engine can attract unwanted pests. rodents and even large raccoons are notorious for chewing on wiring and nesting in air filters. These small avoidable pest can rack up mechanic bills of over thousands!!! Here are some cost effective hacks to protect your vehicle and wallet.
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02-25-15

Car Hacks: Recycle a Coffee Cup into a Tissue Holder

Starting off your day with a good cup of coffee? How about turning that cup into something useful in your car?
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02-15-15

6 Car Maintenance Items everyone should know how to do.

Check your oil! You need to know how to check your oil for engine safety and keep a schedule of your service appointments. Read your owners manual to see how frequently your vehicle requires an oil change to ensure longevity.
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10-31-13

How to Add Google Maps Destinations to your Nissan Leaf GPS

TipTuesday

 

Mossy Nissan San Diego now brings you hot tips every Tuesday! If you have a tip you would like to share please contact us: AM-Strategies.com
 
Send Google Maps destinations to your Nissan LEAF GPS. Check out the step-by-step procedure below. 
Don’t have your own leaf - but looking to save a bundle on gas?
Check out our amazing San Diego inventory now
 
PHOTO CREDIT: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smartphone_App_Nissan_Leaf_Spain.jpg
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07-09-13

HOW TO “SUMMERIZE” YOUR CAR!

HOW TO "SUMMERIZE" YOUR CAR!





Summer is a time for casual day trips to the beach, family vacations to the mountains, and just plain cruising down the highway with friends. But summer heat, dust, an increase in stop and go traffic, an even the cumulative effects of winter time driving, can begin to take its toll on a vehicle that hasn't been properly maintained or conditioned for the hot, dry summer months. Conducting regular inspections and making the necessary repairs and periodic maintenance will lessen the odds of future mechanical failure.  It will also prolong the life of the vehicle as well as increase its re-sale value.  It really should become an annual event for any car owner because of the tremendous upside when it's done regularly and properly. Some of the inspection and repairs are simple procedures and can be performed fairly easily by do-it-yourselfers.  Others are not and should be handled only by a qualified mechanic.  Owners should know what they are capable of handling and what they are not.  A good way to get started is by reading the owner's manual and following manufacturer's recommended service schedules.
When those summertime temperatures start climbing, drivers find relief by cranking up the air conditioning. Keep in mind that a system that's operating only marginally is likely to fail in hot weather, so it should be evaluated by a skilled and qualified technician.  Unless you know your way around these units, leave this to the professionals.

OVERHEATING

One of the most frequent causes of summertime breakdowns is overheating.  To prevent this from occurring, the cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled every 24 months, and the levels, condition and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically.  Generally, a 50-50 mix of anti-freeze and water is recommended.  The strength and condition of drive belts, clamps and hoses should also be checked, and they should be replaced if found to be loose or cracked.

OIL

Regardless of the season, oil and oil filters should be changed in accordance with specifications in the owner's manual, however, every 3,000 miles is a good rule of thumb, particularly for those who make frequent short trips, extended trips with cargo, or tow a trailer.  In addition, engine performance can be improved by replacing air, PCV and fuel filters, and by correcting starting and idling problems when they are first noticed.  Don't put them off.

GLASS

Dirty windshields can cause eye fatigue and reduce visibility, creating a safety hazard.  Replace those worn wiper blades and check to make sure there's plenty of wiper fluid in the reservoir to clean the windshield when necessary.

TIRES

Tire pressure is a frequent cause of flats and blowouts and therefore should be checked at least once a month.  Always make sure the tires are cooled down before checking, and rotate them about every 5,000 miles to ensure even wear.  And when inspecting tires, don't forget to check the spare for tread life, uneven wearing and cupping.  Be sure the jack is in good working condition and that all the parts are there.

BRAKES

For the safety of everyone on the road, brakes should be checked as recommended in the owner's manual, but sooner if pulsations, grabbing, noises, or longer than usual stopping distances are noticed.  Even the slightest brake problem should be corrected immediately.

BATTERY

A car or truck battery can fail at any time and the only way to accurately detect a weak one is with a battery tester, which most auto service centers offer.  Routine battery care involves scraping away corrosion from the posts and cable connections, cleaning all surfaces, re-tightening connections and, if the battery caps are removable, checking fluid levels monthly.  It's always a good idea to wear protective gloves and eyewear when working around batteries.

LIGHTS

To improve night vision, as well as visibility, inspect all head and tail lights and bulbs, replace burned out bulbs, and periodically clean out dirt and insects from the lenses.

EMERGENCIES!

And finally, put together an emergency kit with basic tools, first aid kit, flares and a flashlight.  Make sure all seat belts are in proper working order and children's safety seats are installed in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines for size, weight and age.  And if trouble should occur on the road, help is usually never far away for those with a cell phone.

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05-08-13

How to End Backseat Battles

How to End Backseat Battles!




There's nothing more frustrating than trying to get from place to place in your busy day with your children bickering in the backseat. Here are some tips to create a smooth ride for everyone!

  1. Separate:  If you can keep siblings a bit separated there is a good chance less aggravation will take place. If you don't have the space to keep them apart, draw an imaginary line in space and explain you expect everyone to respect it.
  2. Distract: Give each child something to do in the car, keeping safety in mind, choosing a toy or a book to look at can reduce the stressful interactions.
  3. Play: With a toy car and some figurines, act out all the wrong things to do and all the right things to do on a car ride.
  4. Listen: On longer trips, children enjoy listening to audio books!
  5. Involve: Invite the children to be a part of the solution.. ask "how can we make this ride OK for everyone?"

Image Credits:
http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2012/05/17/1226359/375671-priestley-children.jpg
http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2012/02/road-trip-kids.jpg

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04-08-13

Make Sure Your Car is Road Trip Ready

Is your car "Road Trip Ready" for Spring?

 


Read this easy checklist!

Trip-worthy tires
Good tires are an integral aspect of vehicle safety, and it is extremely important to check your tires before heading on an extended road trip.

Brake check
Checking your brakes is an extremely important aspect of routine vehicle maintenance, and you should be sure your brakes are in prime condition before a long journey.

Routine maintenance
Whether your trip is 100 miles or 1,000, checking your vehicle mechanics is important before heading out on the open road. This includes checking and changing your oil, coolant, brake, and transmission fluids as needed.

>To make an appointment to have your car inspected and serviced click here

Read more about getting your car road trip ready: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Get-your-car-road-trip-ready-for-spring-4300187.php#ixzz2PJtdxtHv

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12-04-12

Winter Car Care Tips

"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since we've no place to go, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!" Such a beautiful holiday song! Of course living in San Diego most of us don't see too much actual snow, much less spend time driving in it. But if you're planning any road trips this winter, especially up to the mountains, please make sure your car is winter ready!

Here are a few tips to help you stay safe on the roads this winter:

Tires: Tires are the number one factor in winter driving safety. When was the last time you had your tires replaced? If it was recently, have you been getting them rotated regularly? Many people forget to get this done, which means these so-called "new" tires are wearing unevenly and could actually be unsafe. Make sure you visually inspect your tires for uneven wear, and loss of tread. Better yet, have a professional inspect them! Balding tires do not grip the road effectively and they increase your breaking distance substantially - especially in wet or icy road conditions. Remember: Worn out tires aren't safe on dry pavement, but they are downright dangerous on rainy, snowy or icy roads. Be sure to get those tires inspected, rotated, and replaced if necessary right away! You can always make an appointment at your local Mossy Nissan service center - for any service needs!

Winter Survival Kit: Planning a road trip to go skiing or snowboarding? Make sure you have a winter survival kit in your car in case things don't go as planned! It only takes a few minutes to gather most of these items and they could save your life!

Your kit should include:

  • Blankets, socks, hats, mittens to keep you and your passengers warm
  • A source of heat like a can heater or multiple wick candle - don't forget matches or a lighter!
  • Water and a metal container suitable for melting snow into drinking water
  • Food - such as hard candy, energy bars, nuts and raisins
  • Bright red or orange cloth and whistle to signal for help
  • An AM/FM radio plus a flashlight - both with new batteries!

Other lifesavers! A shovel, a good spare tire, jumper cables, tire chains, road flares and a small tool kit can become your lifesavers if a bad situation comes around!

Stay warm and safe! If your car gets stuck in snowy conditions, and you need to keep your car running for heat, make that your exhaust pipe is not blocked off by snow! Run the engine and heater for 10 minutes every hour depending on the amount of gas in your tank. If there is heavy snow or sleet coming down, keep one window slightly open so you don't get sealed inside your car!

We want all our drivers to be safe this season, and we hope this helps those of you traveling to snowy climates. Mossy Nissan can help you get ready for these holiday trips with a FREE winter car care inspection, a winter car care package, or a 27-point inspection here. We wish you a safe holiday season this year!

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