Resources - Blog – Keep The Car!
Our ‘Keep the Car Blog’ continues to be a popular way for us to provide you with car tips, local event news, and stuff that’s just plain fun!January 5th, 2011 | Posted in Auto Maintenance Tips, Auto Repair
Auto Suspension, Shocks & Struts: Why Repair & Maintenance are Key to Safety!
by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager
Last time I brought my little Ford Focus in to Cars for Keeps for a check up, Bobby found a problem with the car that had been evident for months prior to my visit. With the car hoisted up on a lift, he lead me around to the rear of the car and lifted up on the rear right wheel.
It easily moved up and down.
“Ok, now see how this wheel moves really easily just by me lifting it?” Bobby said. “That’s because the spring is shot. Imagine the whole weight of your car resting on the wheel. The rear springs are hardly providing any shock absorption at all.”
Bobby went into further detail, but all I could hear was “repair costs repair costs repair costs”.
“So…how important is it, exactly, for me to get this problem fixed?” I asked. Not one to be a pushy sales guy, Bobby shrugged and told me that if left unfixed, it could lead to damage to the rest of the rear suspension. It would also be one uncomfortable ride, what with zero shock absorption and all. Then there was safety.
As it turns out, having well maintained suspension systems are a key factor when it comes driving safety. Let’s look at why.
Auto suspension systems are composed of springs, shock absorbers and linkages which connect to the vehicle’s wheels. In essence, the suspension system is what connects your vehicle’s body to its wheels and manages the weight distribution. The suspension system is responsible for two main tasks:
1) to maintain even traction by keeping the vehicle’s wheels in contact with the road, and
2) to dampen vibrations, bumps and road noise for passengers, providing a more comfortable ride.
Struts and shocks aren’t only about having a more comfortable ride. They play a key role in keeping your vehicle’s tires in consistent contact with the road. They provide the cushion your vehicle needs to maintain much-needed traction. Worn struts and shocks will cause extra bounce and vibration, lowering your vehicle’s traction. A car with worn shocks and struts might not notice much of a handling difference under normal circumstances, but in an emergency stop, that wear can cost drivers an extra 30-40 feet in braking distance.
In other words, worn shocks, struts and suspension systems can eliminate a driver’s ability to brake quickly when it matters.
Of course, suspension systems are also tied to steering, so faulty suspension systems can also cause potentially dangerous steering or handling problems. Aside from safety issues, worn or misaligned suspension systems can cause uneven tire wearing, and lower gas mileage.
To make sure your vehicle is operating with the best safety and efficiency, keep an eye out for any of the following symptoms of faulty suspension systems:
- Vehicle bounces when going down the road
- Steering is hard or loose
- Vehicle pulls to one side or wanders down the road
- Steering wheel vibrates, shimmies or jerks
- Clunking or other noises when turning
If your vehicle has any of the following symptoms, it could be as simple as a misalignment or loose spring. The only way to know is to have it checked out!
December 10th, 2010 | Posted in Woman's Point of View
A Women’s Point of View: We Have Elves!
by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager
Tis the season when magic happens. All the elves are extra busy making everyone’s wishes and dreams come true, making children’s (and adult children’s) toys, ordinary trees sparkle, wrapping plain boxes in such a way to make us wonder in awe and mystery of what is inside, and filling our homes with smells that make us remember warm and wondrous moments.
Even in the workplace we cannot escape their magic touches. At Cars For Keeps we have elves too. Our main elf has been helping many people easily get those new tires on their cars, since the snow has started to fly through the air. Yes, we have been forced to let go of summer in our hearts and minds, so we may as well gracefully surrender to the romance of falling snow, fireplaces and warm, soft mittens.
Our other elves have been busy helping to rectify the usual cold weather maladies that affect our cars such as dead batteries, broken window seals, heater malfunctions, windshield wipers that leave streaks, and all the other little things that happen when it turns cold. Then there are the major breakdowns and malfunctions that can and do happen. Our elves can do it all on all makes of cars.
Since this is the season for giving here is the tip for the day: Cars For Keeps is giving free oil changes to all active members and immediate family members (spouses and at home children) of all branches of the armed services. It is our way of saying, ‘Thank you for your service’!
December 8th, 2010 | Posted in Woman's Point of View
Winter Driving Tips for Bald Tires, Light Cars & Other Bad Winter Vehicles
by Marjorie S., Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager
We’ve promoted. We’ve suggested. We’ve blogged, tweeted and status updated. We’ve offered coupons. We’ve done everything we possibly can to impress the importance of proper winter snow tires on our customers, and you’ve listened – most of you, that is.
Having been in the auto repair industry for as long as we have, we know that some people are just not going to follow our advice, no matter what we do. Maybe you don’t believe you actually NEED snow tires, or maybe you just don’t have the money for snow tires in your budget right now. Whatever your reasons for not getting those snow tires installed, this post is for you!
Keep in mind the recommendations below are NOT an encouragement to keep your vehicle unprepared for winter weather. Still, we understand that sometimes “life happens”. If you’re driving on bald tires for one reason or the other, we at least want you to have the driving knowledge to take what Michigan winters will throw at you.
Winter Driving on Bald Tires
So you’re driving on summer tires, bald tires, or perhaps all weather tires. If your vehicle is “compact”, it’s much more susceptible to skidding around on the ice and getting blown off course by semi trucks. What can you do to drive safely in these conditions?
Slow. Down. It’s painfully basic, but it’s true. The faster your bald-tired little vehicle goes on slippery snow and ice, the less traction it has. If your car is not equipped for winter, leave yourself more time to get places and drive slowly during inclement road conditions. Sure, it’s inconvenient, but it could save your life.
Use lower gears. This especially applies to driving up or down inclines on icy roads; using lower gears can help to give you more traction and maintain a slower, steadier speed.
Never forget road conditions. If you’re driving on bald tires during an ice storm, you’re probably not going to think about anything else until you’ve taken the key out of the ignition. If you’re driving on old all-weather tires in slushy barely freezing weather, however, you might be tempted to become overconfident and forget about your car’s treacherous position. The moment you take your vehicle’s traction for granted and brake or steer too hard is the moment you might lose control of the vehicle.
Maintain space between your car and other vehicles. Who cares if you’re driving like dear old grandma? Maintaining extra space between the cars around you is an easy way to avoid costly fender benders in town. On the freeway, it’s an easy way to avoid a fatal crash.
Don’t rely on your brakes. When you’re driving on bad tires in bad conditions, avoid the temptation to over-brake at all costs. If your vehicle has little or no traction, braking hard is more likely to cause your car to spin out of control than anything else. At high speeds on the freeway, even braking lightly on ice can cause your brakes to lock and your vehicle to lose control. In these situations, the best way to slow down is to remove your foot from the gas, wait for some deceleration (if you can), then pump the brake pedal slowly and firmly. If you don’t have ABS, this can also prevent your wheels from locking.
Drive behind salt trucks. Passing heavy equipment during inclement weather is treacherous in a vehicle equipped with great snow tires. If you’re driving a poorly equipped car, do yourself a favor and remain behind salt trucks as long as you can. Sure, you’ll probably get where you’re going late, and your car will definitely need an undercarriage wash, but you’ll avoid a potentially bad accident.
If your vehicle is medium to heavy duty truck with rear or four wheel drive, toss heavy items such as bricks or old summer tires in the back. Even if your tires are bald, the extra weight should help to give you a little much-needed traction.
Safe driving! (and remember: it’s not too late to get snow tires installed…)
December 3rd, 2010 | Posted in Holiday Travel, Woman's Point of View
A Women’s Point of View: The Rush Has Begun
by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager
It’s official. The Holidays that we all know and love are in full swing. The cooking, the cleaning for all the company, the shopping, the chauffeuring, the decorating, etc., etc., etc. You are Woman! We hear you roar!
I notice every year at Cars For Keeps that we see fewer women this time of year. We do get to meet their husbands, their teenagers, even their fathers and brothers. Good recruiting and delegating ladies. Our hats are off to you for knowing that your car’s mechanical health is very important this time of year when you are running here and there and everywhere. You think and plan ahead to have that oil change, those brakes checked and fixed and those inspections done to head off any potential trouble. There is nothing worse than getting up at 3AM to get to that store for those great bargains and then finding out your battery is dead. You get ten points for stress reduction.
Winter driving tip for the day: steering wheel covers. Get the kind that have material and bumps on them. The material keeps your steering wheel from getting so cold that your hands ache and the bumps give you a good grip when turning corners. How many times have your hands slipped, especially if you are wearing mittens? Oddly enough, the bumpy parts do not get that cold, so you can take off those bulky mittens with the hand warmers and stay comfortably in control of that steering wheel. The only bad part is getting the cover onto the steering wheel, but it is worth the trouble. Oh, and be sure to color coordinate.!
December 1st, 2010 | Posted in Uncategorized
Winter Snow Tires: Two Tires or Four?
by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager
Well, as anyone who was traveling in West Michigan over the Thanksgiving holiday knows, winter weather driving is officially here! We may not all love the snow, but it’s here to stay, and our vehicles need to be prepared.
Some drivers may opt to only put snow tires on two wheels – front or back, depending on where the drivetrain is located – in an attempt to save money. While this may seem like a good idea from a non-mechanic’s point of view, the truth is that only using two snow tires instead of four may barely improve your vehicle’s handling in inclement positions. In rear wheel drive vehicles, using snow tires only on the back end may actually cause less control than no snow tires at all.
But don’t take our word for it. Take a look at these two winter tire demonstration videos put out by the Automobile Protection Association:
Rear Wheel Drive Snow Tires
Front Wheel Drive Snow Tires
So which brand of snow tires is best for your vehicle? We carry many brands winter tires which fit a range of budgets. Of course, we prefer the performance of some brands and models more than others, but the important thing is to HAVE snow tires on all four of your vehicle’s wheels. To price out snow tires for your car, give us a call at 616-846-1989 or stop by the shop.
Safe driving!
Subscribe to 
