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Most of us know it's a bad idea to be driving around town with a flat tire, but there are steps to take before your tire reaches that point. Instead of waiting for your tires to become incredibly flat from a loss of air pressure, you should be checking the pressure and adding air every so often to keep things running smoothly. Read on and see how often you should be checking your tire pressure and what impact it can have on your vehicle. more Three Ways Low Air Pressure in your Tires Damages Your Car Incorrect tire pressure greatly decreases the safety of your vehicle as it affects the cornering, braking and stability. You might even end up in a serious accident. So, what happens if you don't keep good track of your tire pressure? If the tire pressure is too high, less of your tire will be touching the ground when you drive. Because of this, your vehicle will much more easily slide around while you drive, and you'll notice a less comfortable ride as your tires absorb less of the shock of the road. If your tire pressure is too low, too much of the tire is touching the ground, increasing friction. This will cause your tired to wear prematurely, and to heat up when you drive. Overheating tires can cause treat separation. A sign of low tire pressure is a squealing noise when you turn corners. Your tire pressure changes regardless of whether your tires are leaking. Changes in temperature greatly affect your tire pressure, and leave many drivers who haven't been checking their pressure with under-filled tires in the colder winter months. Need New Tires in Racine WI? If your tires are leaking and your tire pressure is constantly low, you might need to make a trip to see the experts here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Racine. We'll help you to diagnose the issue, and even get you set up with new tires if need be. Our friendly professionals are here to answer your questions and to get you back on the road in a safe and reliable vehicle.

When you bring your vehicle in to see the service experts at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Racine, you are not only getting quality repair and maintenance, but the care and attention your vehicle needs from a group of professionals who work hard to keep your car running its best for as long as possible. Read on and check out the parts of your vehicle that we check for free each time you visit. more Free Multi-Point Inspection at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Dropping your vehicle off at the service center can be expensive and inconvenient, so the team here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Racine wants to take some of the stress off your shoulders by helping you to keep your vehicle in tip top shape. Instead of simply changing your oil and sending you home, our service team will check a variety of parts on your vehicle to give you an idea of any issues you might not know about. Read More: Reasons To Never Drive On Empty How often do we only find out that our vehicle has a problem once it's become a big issue? With the free multi-point inspection from the service team, we are hoping to help you avoid big repairs and potentially dangerous issues. Whether you drive something shiny and new, or something used and well-loved, your vehicle means a lot to us, and we want to keep it in great shape. Here is a list of the things we will take a look at when we go through the free multi-point inspection. If you have any questions, or want to know more about what the service team will inspect, give us a call! Fluids (oil, transmission, brakes, and even wiper fluid) Belts and Hoses Tires Shocks/Struts Schedule Vehicle Service Racine WI If your vehicle could use a check-up, or it's time for your routine maintenance and repairs, give us a call or schedule your appointment online. We are here to answer your questions and to get your car driving and feeling great.

We've all driven our vehicle until that gas light turns on. Whether it was freezing outside and we really didn't want to have to stand outside and pump the gas, or money was tight and we just needed to make the fuel last as long as possible, we've all tried to stretch our empty fuel tank. Most vehicles can run for quite a few miles after the low fuel light comes on, but should we be pushing the limits? Check out these reasons why you should never drive your car on a nearly empty tank. more Why Low Fuel Is Bad For Your Car When your fuel light comes on, it means that your vehicle has between 10%-15% of the fuel left, and that it is running on its reserves. Sure, that might mean that your fuel efficient little car has quite a few miles left in it, but it's not worth running the risk of letting your fuel run dry. There's more at stake than your ego when you're standing on the side of the highway waiting for rescue. Read More: Smells Inside Your Car That Mean Trouble Your fuel pump works while your car is running to send your gas to your engine, and the fuel in the tank helps to keep the pump cool and lubricated. Without fuel in your tank to keep the pump cool, you run the risk of it overheating and eventually failing. Not only is it an expensive part to replace, prior to the failure, your car will be running less efficiently and wasting the fuel in your tank even when it's full. Check This Out: Free Online Coupons for Vehicle Service & Repair Another risk of driving with a low fuel tank is loading up your fuel filter with gunk from the bottom of the tank. Any debris or sediment will settle at the bottom, and when your fuel levels are low, that's where the pump will be pulling from. For these reasons, and to save yourself the embarrassment of standing on the side of the road waiting for a tow or for a friend to bring you some fuel, you should try to remember to fill your gas tank when it reaches a quarter tank. Fuel Tank Issues Service Racine WI If you are worried that your fuel pump is on its way out, or that your filter is clogged with debris from inside your gas tank, give us a call or schedule a service appointment online. The friendly and experienced team at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Racine would love to get your car in ship shape, and help keep your fuel economy at its highest possible level.

Our vehicles just don't love cold weather. Sure, you might have snow tires and seat warmers and all the other added features to make your winter driving more convenient and reliable, but there's nothing worse than having to scrape your car and unstick frozen doors when you're ready to leave. It's a hassle, but the good news is that there's something you can do to solve your frozen door issues this winter. more How to Prevent Frozen Car Doors This Winter Step 1: Inspect Your Doors There is a gasket that forms the seal between your door and the frame of your vehicle. If it is worn or torn, you'll find that water can get between the two and will freeze when the temperatures drop. This will seal your door to the frame of your car, and can make it nearly impossible to get it open. Step 2:  Clean the Door Frame Even if your gasket looks good, there is a chance that dirt and debris can get in the way of it sealing out the water. Take a microfiber cloth and some warm water to clean off the gasket all the way around. Step 3: Lube the Gasket There are certain types of rubber-safe lubricants you can buy that will help to keep the gasket in good shape. A dry gasket will crack and leak easier, so keeping it lubricated will help to ensure your doors don't freeze shut. Check out a silicone spray or general rubber conditioner. Step 4: Cover It Up If you don't have a garage to keep your car in, the next best thing you can do is to cover the car or the door you need to be able to get into. You can use a cover or a tarp to keep snow and rain off the door when the temperatures drop below zero.

While you might notice smells inside your car more easily, since that's where you spend most of your time, the smells outside of your vehicle can be just as indicative of issues that need to be fixed. We'll help you diagnose the issue that is causing the burning smell outside of your car. Read on and learn about the smells that indicate issues with different parts of your car. more Bad Smells Outside Your Vehicle Whether you are just noticing a slight smell, or there is obviously something wrong with your vehicle, the type of smell you are noticing can indicate what type of issue you are facing. Here are five different smells and what parts they indicate need some work: Rotten Egg/Sulfer Smell: If you are smelling rotten eggs, it is usually caused by a catalytic converter in the exhaust overheating. The converter could be failing, or your engine might need some work. Either way, this means a trip to the service center! Don't wait too long, as this can cause issues down the road. Burning Plastic Smell: This usually means that another part of your vehicle is contacting the exhaust and is melting. If you ran over something on the road, this can be burning on the exhaust, or if a part of your vehicle is loose, it might be touching it. Burning Metallic Smell: This usually means your brakes are wearing down, or your clutch is failing. The clutch disc and your brake pads are similar in composition, and both create a similar smell. Bring your vehicle in to the service center to diagnose the issue and replace the affected part. Sweet Smell: You could smell this inside or outside your vehicle, but wherever it comes from it means a coolant leak. If it is leaking onto your engine or the ground, you will probably be able to smell it. Bring it in to find the leak and repair the issue. Gasoline Smell: If you are smelling gas when your vehicle is parked or when it is in drive, it indicates a fuel leak. The most common ones are the top seal on the fuel tank and the injectors that you find under the hood. Get this checked out and save money on fuel, and get rid of that constant gas smell.

With winter quickly approaching here in Wisconsin, it’s important to make sure you have good tires on your vehicle. Whether you’re in need of a new pair of tires or are just looking to put some winter tires on for the season, the unlimited options may leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed. We know it can be difficult to know which tire size your vehicle needs or which tires work best, so to help out, we’ve implemented a Tire Finder page into our website. more How to Find Tires in Racine, WI Using our Tire Finder tool is incredibly simple. All you have to do is enter the year, model and trim of your vehicle, and we’ll take care of the rest. If you know what tire size your vehicle needs, you can enter that instead of year, model and trim to bring up the correct results. Read more: Buying the Right Tires for a Wisconsin Car Once you enter the information about your vehicle or tire size, you’ll be brought to a page that displays all the tire options for the information you provided. You’ll easily be able to see information like base price of the tires, installation price, size, seasonality, tread life warranty and more. We know that this can still be a little overwhelming if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, so we’ve broken it down even farther with a comparison tool. With our comparison tool, you’ll be able to select up to four tires and compare them side-by-side. Simply check the boxes for the tires you want to compare and hit the compare button. Now you’ll be able to see more in-depth information about the tires including width, ratio, diameter, class, load index, performance rating and much more. You’ll also be able to see if the tire is being offered with a promotion. If it is, you’ll be able to see what the promotion is. If you still aren’t sure exactly what tire would be the best fit for your vehicle or budget, don’t hesitate to contact our knowledgeable team. You might also be interested in: Six ways to Improve Your Night Driving Ready to schedule an appointment to get those new tires installed? Schedule a service online with us or give our service department a call at (877) 637-9292.

When it comes to caring matte paint, there are a few different things to consider. Traditional vehicle paint and all of the finishing products are made to reflect light and shine. The difference with matte paint is that it is not reflective. Thus, taking the time to care for it requires different products and methods. Read on to learn some of our tips for how to clean and maintain matte vehicle paint. more How Does Matte Paint Differ From Regular Car Paint? Matte paint, while not shiny, has its own issues and difficulties. Because it doesn't shine, it cannot be buffed or polished. A matte finish won't tolerate any scratches, and cannot be corrected once it has been scratched. Because of this, we have to treat it carefully. Read More: How to Boost Your Vehicle's Value How to Wash a Matte Car Be sure to use a wax-free, ph neutral, car washing soap. It needs to be wax-free because wax in regular vehicle soap will cause a splotchy and clouded appearance. The ph neutral part will help avoid any damage caused by the soap. It is important to wash a matte vehicle regularly, as any excess dirt and oils will start to give the vehicle a sheen. If you wash the vehicle and it still seems to have a sheen, you can try diluted Isopropyl alcohol to remove any excess oils. Be sure to remove bird droppings or bugs as soon as you can to prevent damage to the matte finish. Schedule Matte Paint Cleaning Racine WI If you have a matte finish on your vehicle, and the maintenance seems overwhelming, don't hesitate to schedule a detailed cleaning with the skilled technicians here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram. Our Racine service department offers a wide variety of maintenance and repair services, so schedule your appointment online or by giving us a call.

There is a certain pride we feel when we're driving around in a car that is well cared for and looks great. When it comes to fast cars, and even your every day driver, the exhaust system can start to look a little grubby. In order to get it cleaned up and looking like new, we've put together some quick tips to clean your car's exhaust at home. Read on and see what you'll need to get the job done! more Cleaning Your Car's Exhaust Tips and Tricks What you need: You'll notice that most of the tools you need to get the job done are similar to those you need to keep your wheels and rims looking nice. Gloves Wheel Cleaning Brushes Wheel Wash Mit Wheel Soap All-Purpose Cleaner #0000 Steel Wool Metal Polish Wheel Protectant READ MORE: Preventing Rusty Rims What You'll Do: Clean your exhaust after your wheels, but before you clean your car's paint. Make sure to separate the wheel cleaning tools from those you use on your car's paint. Spray some all-purpose cleaner onto your exhaust tip and allow it to soak for 1-2 minutes. Using strong wheel soap, clean the exhaust tip with a wheel cleaning brush, making sure to twist and scrub. Then rinse (without spraying directly into the exhaust chamber) and see if it's clean enough. If you still aren't happy with the result, soak the tips in wheel cleaner and use some steel wool to scrub off the rest of the carbon. Rinse and repeat if still not clean. Follow up with aluminum or metal polish to brighten the surface, and then finish with some wheel protectant to keep the tips as clean as possible, until it's time for a wash! Schedule Vehicle Detail Racine WI If this seems like a lot of work, and your speed machine could use a clean up, give us a call at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Racine. Our friendly experts are here to help get your car looking and driving its best, and we offer a wide variety of services.

Vehicle maintenance can often be put aside during the cold and unfriendly winter months, but as summer gets closer, it's a great time to catch up on forgotten maintenance. By keeping your vehicle looking and running its best, you can increase it's life and enjoy a less stressful driving experience in any weather. Read on to find Chrysler Dodge Jeep service center coupons for Racine WI, and to learn more about what maintenance should be on your summer checklist! more Summer Vehicle Maintenance Checklist When it comes to winter driving, we know that our vehicles take a beating. Slippery roads, salt and constantly changing temperatures cause strain on your vehicle's engine, tires, and other systems. Now that summer has arrived,  it is a great time to make sure that your vehicle is running as reliably as possible before the winter weather returns. Check These Out! Free Service Center Coupons! Read below to find a checklist of parts and areas of your vehicle that should be checked and maintained. Things like oil and filter changes should be done throughout the year, but many maintenance strategies are left by the wayside out of inconvenience. Test Your Battery Replenish Coolant Check Out the A/C Oil Change Tire Examination and Rotation New Windshield Wipers Read More: How to Tell if My Car Needs an Oil Change Online Service Appointment Scheduling Racine WI We know your schedule is packed, so we want to make scheduling your vehicle maintenance and repair as quick and easy as possible. That's why we offer convenient online scheduling at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM of Racine. Our skilled technicians are here to work on any and all makes and models. Schedule your appointment now, and take advantage of the affordable pricing and excellent customer service that makes us one of the area's best service centers.

If you are looking to buy a vehicle, many people will argue about the benefits of choosing either a four-cylinder or a V-6 engine. While there are real reasons to choose one over the other, depending on what you're hoping to get out of your vehicle, it is also important to realize that automotive technology has changed dramatically over the last several years. This means that smaller engines are doing more than they used to, and larger engines are using less fuel than they were. We'll help to show you the differences between a turbocharged I-4 vs V-6 engine, and hopefully will guide your decision as you consider purchasing a new or used vehicle. more Benefits of a 4-Cylinder Turbo Engine The physical difference between a four-cylinder engine and a V-6 engine lies in the difference in the number of cylinders. Larger displacement engines have more cylinders, and often the cylinders are in a V-shape inside the engine. This is how the V-6 engine gets it's name. And I-4 engine simple means that the four cylinders are in a line, making it an inline-four-cylinder engine. Read More: How Often Should I Change my Oil? In order to achieve more power for the I-4, without decreasing fuel efficiency or increasing the number of cylinders, is to add a boosting system. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine will produce extra power, but only when necessary, making it a great option for those who are fuel-conscious. The down side of a turbocharged engine is that the power can be slightly delayed during acceleration. With a powerful engine, the push of the pedal elicits immediate speed, but a turbocharged I-4 will sometimes take a second or two before fully getting in on the action. V-6 Engine vs Turbocharged I-4 When you decide to jump in and go with the more powerful V-6 engine option, you are sure to experience a few great benefits. First of all, the difference in power and quickness in acceleration will make for a more responsive driving experience. Secondly, you'll notice a real dip in your fuel efficiency. While technology has allowed V-6 engines to become much more fuel efficient than they were, the difference between an I-4 and a V-6 is still noticeable.

Vehicle maintenance may not be our favorite activity, but it is a crucial step in preserving your vehicle, and preventing further issues. The engine oil keeps all your parts lubricated and helps to prevent overheating. If you're wondering how to tell if your Dodge needs an oil change, we'll help you check and see! Read on to learn about doing a dipstick test. more Doing a Dipstick Oil Check If you want to check the engine oil in your Dodge vehicle, you'll need to warm up the engine first. Once the engine is warm, turn it off and wait a moment for all the oil to return to the oil pan. Open your vehicle's hood and look for a small loop or handle. Pull on the loop/handle and fully remove the dipstick from the engine. Take a heavy paper tower or a rah and wipe off all of the oil on the dipstick. Then put the dipstick back into the shaft and wait a moment. Remove the dipstick once more and use the markings on the end to see where the oil levels are and how clean the oil is. Read More: How to Prevent Rusty Rims Signs your Dodge Needs an Oil Change Your vehicle might need an oil change for two reasons. Either the oil levels are low because your engine is burning some of the oil away as it runs, or your oil is dirty and old and can do longer do its job. How to Check for Low Oil: Look at the end of the dipstick to see where the oil ends, and how it is marked. If the oil doesn't reach the last line, you'll need to add more. If the oil doesn't reach any of the lines, you're at least a quart of oil low. Add oil between changes by researching your vehicle age, driving conditions, and engine. If the oil consumption requires you to add anything near a quart for every 1,000 miles, take it as a sign to bring your local Dodge experts. How to Check for Dirty Oil: Look at the oil at the end of your dipstick to see what color and viscosity it is. The oil should look smooth and glossy and a nearly transparent color. If the oil has sludgy deposits or is dark in color, it is time to get your oil changed. Sometimes, oil can even smell like rotten cheese, and this is also a sign that it needs a change!

There are several reasons that your Jeep could be creaking when you drive. Part of what makes the Jeep brand so special, is that the vehicles are made to handle rough terrain. However, this means that there are a number of parts and pieces that can start to creak and groan when you are out on the road. If you've noticed Jeep creaking sounds on uneven ground, we'll give you a head start on diagnosing the issue. Read on! more Jeep Creaking Suspension Issues If your Jeep Compass or Jeep Wrangler is making some creaking noises as you pull in and out of your driveway or making turns on an uneven road, it most likely has something to do with the suspension. Your Jeep's suspension does the job of protecting your vehicle from sharp changes the road surface and making your ride more comfortable and smooth. Read More: Jeep Won't Start? Check Out These 4 Tips! Creaking sounds are almost always related to issues with your vehicles suspension. No matter which Jeep you drive, your suspension is a complicated setup. Creaks could be coming from the shocks, or the components that hold your Jeep's suspension together. If you're looking for one way to solve your vehicle's squeaking suspension, check out this video. Jeep Suspension Repair in Kenosha WI If you are looking for a quick and reliable way to find out what is wrong with your Jeep, bring it in to see the experts here at Palmen Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Racine. Our experienced technicians are happy to answer any of your questions and help you get your Jeep running and sounding like new again. Read More: How to Find Out if My Jeep's 4x4 is Working?