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Color options for the 2015 Jeep Renegade When you see the new Jeep Renegade driving around town, there are lots of reasons to be excited. One of these reasons is the awesome options for colors. So what are the color options for the 2015 Jeep Renegade? We'll tell you and show you! more We love the Renegade! Here are some fun facts about this new vehicle that has everyone excited and ready to drive one home today! Fuel Economy: 24 city/ 31 hwy Available Trim Levels: Sport, Latitude, Limited, Trailhawk If you are interested in taking the 2015 Jeep Renegade for a test drive, be sure to give us a call or schedule your appointment online. Our skilled and professional staff of automotive experts are always happy to answer your questions and help you to choose the perfect vehicle for your needs, lifestyle, and budget.

When it comes to understanding all of the features of newer cars, it can be difficult to know what each and every benefit and extra piece of technology does. Daytime running lights are appearing many new vehicles these days. Does my Jeep Cherokee have daytime running lights? We'll tell you what they do and which of our vehicles come with them. more Daytime running lights sound simple enough. They are lights that run all day, even in bright conditions. It's easy to forget they are even there? So what do they do? Suck battery life for no reason? What do daytime running lights do? Much like bicycles on the road need reflectors, daytime running lights work to make your vehicle more visible to people and drivers around it. While these lights aren't blinding or particularly bright, they make the vehicle more easily seen and will turn off automatically at night. Do I need daytime running lights? While these were not considered a necessity for a long time, many new cars come with these lights as a standard safety feature. Some even suggest that they decrease the number of accidents while on the road by over 15% due to other drivers having a better chance of seeing an oncoming vehicle. Do you need them? No. Are they useful? Yes. Can I turn them off? Of course you can turn off your daytime running lights. While they are even thought of as rather stylish in some new cars, there is always an option to turn them off. So which of our vehicles have these lights on them? 2015 Jeep Renegade 2015 Jeep Cherokee 2015 Jeep Patriot 2015 Chrysler 200 2015 Chrysler 300 2015 Dodge Dart And many more! Come in to test drive one of our vehicles today!

Out of the many uses of a car, one of the oft overlooked aspects is the towing ability. No matter what the situation, whether it is getting your boat safely from storage to the water or getting your tractor to the mechanic to find out what could be wrong with it, being able to tow is a huge advantage that an SUV or truck has over a sedan. As useful as towing is, it can sometimes be a hassle to get everything copacetic. If you follow these helpful towing tips, you'll be a pro in no time at all. more 4 Tips for Towing Trailers and Other Large Equipment Like most things, the best way to ensure a good towing experience is to make sure that everything is in working order before you use it. Checking tire pressure, electric braking mechanisms, and lights before your trip while pay off great dividends in peace of mind. Another great tip for towing well is to always recall the action at hand. You could drive professionally every day of the week, but forgetting that you have something riding behind you in the trailer could be a death sentence for your trip. Make sure to be an active driver, taking extra time on your turns, and simply remembering that the center of balance has been changed slightly will save a ton of headaches later on. If using a trailer, make sure to do regular maintenance on the bearings. If the trailer is seeing regular use, make sure to replace the bearings and bearing grease. Many a trailer have met their demise due to ignoring this part. Under the trailer hitch, make sure to not only use safety chains, but cross them in an X formation for maximum stability. Not only will this help your turning radius, but if there was ever a break in the hitch, those chains could save your load. Towing is a lifelong skill that is most greatly affected by experience. If you ever wondered why your dad was so skilled in towing things and you were just happy to make it home, it was almost surely just accumulated time spent towing. Spending more time with a trailer hooked up and following the above tips will not only make your towing go more smoothly, but will also ensure a safe trip for you and those around you.

No matter how careful of a driver you are, collisions are a part of driving that every person needs to be prepared for. Avoiding dangerous situations with other cars is a common skill taught even to the youngest drivers, but dealing with an animal while on the road is another topic that doesn’t get enough time in the spotlight. It can be quite scary to be thrust into one of these potentially life threatening situations; but by following a few simple guidelines, you can drastically decrease the chances of hitting a deer and causing great damage to your vehicle. more Tips to Avoid Hitting Deer and Reduce Vehicle Damage The first tip that has the highest chance of success is to be proactive in your driving and keep an active line of sight that is constantly scanning the road for potential hazards like deer. Dusk and the early evening are often the times when the deer population are moving around, so it is especially important to keep your head on the swivel during these times of the day. In the unfortunate situation that a collision with a deer is unavoidable, it is important to remember the size rule. The size rule stipulates that if the deer is lower than the hood of your car it is safer to hit it straight on, where as if it is bigger, it is safer to swerve and get out of the way. Hitting the deer with your car will unfortunately cause damage, but is much safer than swerving and potentially causing a much larger crash with other vehicles. READ MORE: Nine Color Options for the Jeep Renegade! Getting into an accident involving a deer is always traumatic and can be tragic, but by being an active driver, being proactive rather than reactive, and following the size rule can potentially save the lives of you and other drivers on the road. The deer population during the fall is more active than any other time of the year, so it is important as ever to remember these tips and practice safe driving this autumn.

Is your engine running a little hot these days? Well, whether you are on the road or hopefully just trying to make it home, these 5 tips for cooling down an overheating Jeep engine are hopefully going to help! Read on to learn what to do! more It's hot. You need to cool it down. Your engine is not a happy camper, and because of that you are here reading this blog. Fear not! We'll give you some great tips for calming down a scorching engine! 5 Tips for Cooling Down an Overheating Jeep Engine Tip #1: Pull over. Turn off the air conditioning. Roll down the windows. This might seem simple, but it's amazing how much work it is to keep your engine cool when the A/C is on! Try and cool things down the natural way by shutting everything off. Tip #2: If that doesn't work, turn on the vehicle and crank the heat! Pulling heat off your engine and into the cab of your vehicle might make you uncomfortable, but it will definitely decrease the strain on your engine. Tip #3: Use your brakes less! It's a known fact that friction causes increased heat. And the friction of your brakes paired with the work the engine does to slow down your vehicle and speed it back up again can mean extra heat being thrown around. Try coasting as much as possible to avoid adding heat to an already steamy situation. Tip #4: Try parking your vehicle and revving the engine. Sometimes the revving of the engine can increase the activity of the water pump and help to cool down the engine. Don't do this a lot. If you don't see immediate results, assume that it's not your best solution. Tip #5: Too late and things boiled over? At that point, pull your vehicle over. Get out of it and open the hood. Your Jeep is gonna need some time to relax before you think about starting it again. You might need to add some water if things boiled over a lot. Make sure the engine is VERY cool before attempting this! READ MORE: Does the Jeep Renegade Drive Like a Jeep? If all else fails, give us a call and we'll help you figure out what to do next. Our qualified service department is trained and ready to handle whatever your vehicle throws our way. We want to help you get back onto the road and moving again as quickly as we can! Safe travels!

Do you know how hard it is to do a commercial for a Dodge without doing a burnout? Watch this funny commercial for a glimpse into the past and a reminder of the amazing history that the Dodge brand has experienced over the years. We love our Dodge vehicles, and many Americans who know the true and lasting value of this true American car brand are all proud to drive Dodge. more Whether it’s the powerful and intense Dodge Charger or the family oriented and spacious Dodge Grand Caravan, there's something here for everyone. At Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we make it easy for car shoppers to find exactly what they are looking for. By offering detailed research and comparisons for every model, our skilled professionals are able to point out exactly what makes our vehicles stand out from the competition. READ MORE: What is the Jeep Death Wobble? Not sure if you have room in your budget for a new Dodge vehicle? No problem! We also have a large inventory of used vehicles for extremely affordable prices. Our financing tools make it easy for customers to get pre-approved for a vehicle loan or even find the value of their trade-in without leaving the comfort of their homes! That's the power of quality customer service and convenience. Enjoy the commercials! Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Before and After Pictures of the Jeep Cherokee Redesign Last year,  the Jeep Cherokee went through an intense redesign.  How do you feel about it? We'll show you some before and after pictures of the Jeep Cherokee redesign. There are those out there who truly love the new design and those who prefer the more classic design of the previous look. Check it out! Take a look at these pictures of the 2015 Jeep Cherokee and let us know what you think! We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments! more BEFORE: According to the latest word on the street, the designers at Jeep are going to keep this redesign for at least a few more years. With the exciting changes going on at Jeep, we can expect other great changes in the Jeep lineup very soon! AFTER: Interested in taking a close look at a Jeep Cherokee on your very own test drive? Schedule your appointment online or give our sales team a call. We have a large number of different Jeep vehicles that are fun to drive and exciting-looking!

Tips for getting a boating license in WI Living in Wisconsin has hundreds of up-sides, but perhaps the best one is the beautiful bounty of nature that we get to experience. From the numerous state parks filled with an ever stretching length of forest to the picturesque lakes where we can boat and fish the day away, the Dairy State has some of the best nature to explore in the world. However, to traverse the many waterways of Wisconsin safely, it is important to remember to acquire and maintain a boating license. This process can be a tad confusing to both newcomers and veterans of Wisconsin's water, but with a little help the process can be painless. Read our tips for getting a boating license in WI. more READ MORE: What do you think of the Jeep Cherokee redesign? The first thing to discuss when talking about boating licenses in Wisconsin is the fact that if you were born before January 1st 1988, you do not need a license to operate a boat on any of Wisconsin's waterways. Unfortunately for the Generations X and Y boaters out there, you will have to go through the process of taking both a safety course and registering. The easiest way to do both of those things is to peruse the internet and find any of the recognized boating associations that run DNR sanctioned programs for boat safety programs. These will take you through all of the state mandated information, as well as getting you ready to safely operate a boat in Wisconsin. This course will culminate in all of the paper work being done and your new license being sent right to your home. Easy peasy right? "Born Before 1988? You don't need one!" If doing the course in your home does not sound like your preferred option, you may also contact the DNR and find when they are offering physical classes. These typically occur in the spring months so new boaters may enjoy the summer on the water, but classes also happen throughout the year. After completing this one day course, you are fully registered to boat to your heart’s content knowing. READ MORE: What is the Jeep Death Wobble? Whichever method you choose, you really cannot go wrong boating in Wisconsin. Whether you prefer a relaxing evening of fishing on Lake Winnebago or taking a pontoon boat down the Wolf River with friends, being on the water in Wisconsin is just about as good as it gets.

Summer time has arrived, and with that comes warm weather and kids home from school. What is better than a hot afternoon and an ice cream treat? Few would argue that ice cream is anything other than delicious and the perfect way to enjoy a summer day in Wisconsin. Dairy treats for everyone! So where are the best ice cream places in Racine WI? We'll tell you what we know: more * Sugar Shack Ice Cream Shoppe -- 530 Monument Square, Racine WI 53403 o It may not be a big place, but the Sugar Shack has an exciting interior and great ice cream for everyone! It's bright pink paint and old-school feel gives this little ice cream shop the perfect vibe for the family sweet tooth! * Z's Custard and Grill -- 3503 Spring Street, Racine WI 53405 o Here you can get a winning combo of fries and ice cream, all without leaving the store! Dinner and custard are a great way to celebrate summer in Wisconsin and you won't be disappointed with your options here at Z's! * Caesars Frozen Custard and Jumbo Burgers -- 2721 Douglas Ave, Racine WI 53402 o Fresh and tasty burgers meet creamy custard at this classic burger joint. We've heard the cheese curds are fantastic and there are lots of options for delicious custard treats for dessert! * Skoops -- 6111 Douglas Ave, Racine WI 53402 o At Skoops, it's all about flavors! With so many to choose from, it's no wonder that folks in the Racine area feel like its worth the drive! Stop in today to satisfy your sweet tooth! READ MORE: Does My Car Use Struts or Shocks? At Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we are proud to show off the fun activities and great community we are a part of. Be sure to check out these local ice cream shops and enjoy your summer! Drive safe!

When you graduate from college, one of the first big steps into adulthood is to take responsibility for transportation. This usually means purchasing a new or used vehicle. Today we are here to share with you 10 reasons why the Chrysler 200 is the perfect car for college grads. Read on to find out more! more There are a lot of available cars on the market today. Many used cars have been poorly maintained and many new cars are simply outside of the average graduates price range. However, at Palmen Dodge Jeep Chrysler of Racine, we pride ourselves on offering great financing deals and affordable vehicles to our customers with a tight budget. Here are 10 reasons to buy a Chrysler 200: 1. Classy American design stands out from the crowd! 2. A high-tech interior makes driving convenient and entertaining! 3. The award-winning Uconnect with all it's entertainment and convenience features! 4. Fuel econony without sacrificing power 5. Five-Star Safety Rating from the NHTSA 6. Safety features usually on luxury vehicles come standard on the Chrysler 200 7. Trim levels offer choices between a sporty, luxurious, or efficient interior and features suite 8. Awesome features for an affordable price! 9. Storage throughout the interior makes for a clean and classy look 10. It's made in the USA! It might not be possible to find a vehicle with more to offer a recent college graduate than the Chrysler 200. With so many people choosing to drive home in one, it's easy to see that they are worth every penny of their affordable starting price. If you are interested in taking a Chrysler 200 for a test drive, be sure to give our sales team a call or schedule an appointment online. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

You find yourself driving down a road only to notice that as you speed up, your Jeep starts to shake violently. It's hard to control the vehicle and you are worried for your life. You slow down only to find that the shaking stops. This is why we are here today to talk about how to solve the Jeep Death wobble and why it happens. more The Death Wobble sounds a lot more exciting than it is. When the suspension system is not balanced correctly, the vehicle will shift from side to side, making the wheels wobble. At higher speeds this becomes more apparent and can be dangerous. It's important to get it fixed. READ MORE: Girls Dance to Big Sean in a Dodge Challenger What causes the suspension to become unbalanced? This, unfortunately is just something that can happen to certain vehicles. Because of the way Jeep Cherokees and Jeep Wranglers are built, their suspension is susceptible to the death wobble and eventually may require a new steering stabilizer. What parts affect the death wobble? It's a common problem but can have multiple answers depending on the vehicle. The death wobble can be associated with: * wheels that aren't aligned properly --> easy to fix! * Unbalanced tires --> also easy to have checked out! * Worn ball joints * steering stabilizing bar READ MORE: Does My Car Use Struts or Shocks? We hope that you never experience the death wobble, but should it happen to be a problem in the future, it's important to bring it in to a trusted service department. Be sure to check for service center coupons before coming in to see if you can save money on maintenance or checking certain parts of the vehicle.

Where to Watch 4th of July Fireworks Racine WI 2015 Do you find yourself unsure of where the best festivities are for the 4th of July in Racine WI? We'll tell you where the party is at and when to get there. Want to know where to watch 4th of July fireworks in Racine WI 2015? We'll tell you that too! Read on to find out! more There are a few exciting things to do for the weekend of the 4th of July in Racine WI. We've got the short and sweet descriptions here for you! The Parade: This is a big deal! It's a great family event and a fantastic way to show appreciation for your community! The parade starts at 8:30AM on Saturday July 4th. It begins on Goold and Main Streets (on the north side of Racine!). It's best to get there early to get the perfect seat! Traffic is blocked from the area starting at 7am, so don't plan on cutting through! There are a few rules to remember at the parade: No Silly String! No fireworks or "Poppers" No crossing the street during the parade! Wear Red White and Blue! READ MORE: What To Do With a Flooded Car Fireworks: This is the big deal. So much time and money goes into the fireworks show each year, so make sure to come down and see it! The fireworks will start at dusk on July 4th (around 9:20pm) Sitting anywhere along the shore of Lake Michigan near Racine is a great place to watch the fireworks, but it's said that the prime watching spots are close to North Beach. Make sure to bring some chairs and a blanket or two to stay comfortable during the show! READ MORE: How Does Horsepower Work? If you are looking for more information about the events for the 4th of July in Racine WI, be sure to visit the website here. Happy Independence Day from all of your friends here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine! We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!