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It's that time of year again! Spring is just around the corner, and you're starting to notice all the dirt and grime and junk that has built up inside your car. Whether it was the salt from the icy roads, food from pit stops at your local McDonalds, or just general dusty grossness, it's about time you cleaned it up. If you follow our advice, you can get your car cleaned up and looking great in no time at all. Just imagine driving to work tomorrow in a car that looks as nice as new! Keep reading to see how to spring clean your car in 3 easy steps. more What is the Origin of Spring Cleaning? Let's take a moment to pause and reflect on why we feel the need to clean things up every spring. There is some logic involved in the idea of spring cleaning. We clean after a long dark and cold winter because we finally have the motivation, with the additional sunlight and warmer weather, to take out the trash. Read More: 3 Driving Myths You've Always Believed However, other traditions from cultures around the world encourage spring cleaning for a variety of reasons. For example, the Jewish custom of Passover is a time to clean the house. To mark the arrival of the Jewish new year, people clean their houses in remembrance of the story of their people's exodus from Egypt. In China, the new year celebration also involves cleaning the home to rid their living space of any bad luck and grime that may have accumulated over the previous year. 3 Steps to Spring Clean Your Car Step 1: Take out the garbage and clean up "grab-able" items from the floors and storage areas of your vehicle. Whether this is fast-food bags, tissues, or papers, it's important to start your vehicle's cleaning process by getting rid of the extra stuff. Once you have an uncluttered area to work with, you can begin to focus on the specifics. Step 2: Take out the car floor mats and vacuum all of the carpeted areas and seats. This is important to get rid of all the small pebbles and dirt you have undoubtedly dragged into your car. Make sure to get under all the seats and inside the cup holders. You want to make sure that all of the junk is off the floor and all small debris is out of the nooks and crannies. Step 3: Clean all the surfaces of your vehicle with the appropriate cleaning solution. This means you get the fabric cleaner out for your seats, the glass cleaner for your windows, and the all-purpose cleaner for your console. Start with the windows and seats. While those are drying, work your way through all the storage compartments and your center console. Items like cotton swabs and microfiber cloths come in handy during this part!

Here in Wisconsin, we definitely know about cold weather. We might have some muggy hot summers too, but winters here can be brutal. When your nose hairs are freezing every time you breathe, you can bet that your engine is having a tough time. Your engine wants to start about as much as you want to crawl out into the snow in your birthday suit. So, a great way to encourage your engine to run the best it can, and get your car's fluids moving is to use an engine block heater. Not sure what that is? We'll tell you what it is, and all about putting an engine block heater in your RAM 1500. more What is an Engine Block Heater? An engine block heater works to warm your engine just a little bit, making it easier to start. We all know we wish our vehicles would warm up as quickly as possible, and this is a great way to give it the head start it needs, without wasting a ton of fuel. Check This Out: Which 2016 RAM Truck is Best And engine block heater works to keep the fluids in the vehicle warm and more easily circulated. Some types of engine block heaters warm the engine coolant and some warm the oil. The most common block heater is an electric heating element that is connected to an outside power source and uses electricity to warm the engine coolant. Other block heaters run on the vehicle's gasoline or diesel fuel and do not require an external power source. RAM 1500 Block Heater Installation Believe it or not, if you have a relatively new RAM 1500 truck, you have a block heater already installed. In the US, the truck doesn't come with a standard cord for the block heater. You can pay for the option to be included, or simply buy the cord later. The team here at Palmen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram can get you the cord you need to take advantage of your block heater this winter. Read More: 2016 RAM 1500 Color Options Check out this cool video that shows you how to connect your block heater cord and use your heater to keep your engine ready to go.

Do you find yourself without the perfect resolutions picked out for 2016? We have the answers you've been looking for! Check out our top 4 east new year's resolution ideas that will help you to feel like a more productive and successful person in 2016. All of these resolutions are easy to do, and simple to remember, so read on to find out! more Four Easy New Year's Resolutions for 2016 Maintain a Clean Car You might think this seems silly, but often times our vehicles are a stressful place filled with dirt and random garbage we accumulate throughout our travels. All you have to do to make your new year less stressful is to keep your car cleaned up. We suggest taking one day a week and making that your day to bring in any items that don't belong in your car. Toss the garbage on that day, as well, and we're sure you'll love how your car feels! Get Your Oil Changed Every vehicle needs a regular oil change to run its best, but sometimes it just slips our mind and we forget. The best way to avoid this is to make your resolution to get your oil changed on the same day each time. Every 3 months or 3,000 miles, your car could use an oil change. Bring it in to the nearest service center and let them Read More: Schedule Your Service Center Appointment Now! Check Your Tires You might not think tires are a big deal when they are inflated and your car can move, but getting these checked out might save you some time and money down the road. You should always be aware of the air pressure and any leaks in your tires. A loss of air can decrease your fuel efficiency, and a slow leak might not be noticeable right away. Also be sure to have your alignment checked out, as wheels that aren't properly aligned will also decrease your fuel efficiency and can put unnecessary stress on your vehicle's steering. Read More: Tire Finder, Do We have New Tires for You? Drive Like a Nice Guy When you are driving to work in the morning, it can actually increase or decrease your fuel efficiency depending on how you accelerate and brake. Driving in a way that is nice to your vehicle can lengthen the life of all your parts and your vehicle in general. While it might not seem like a huge deal, smooth accelerations and nice and easy braking can keep your car running smoothly and decrease your chance of taking a trip to the service center earlier than you would otherwise have to. Other Tips and Tricks Blogs!

Is my Jeep's 4x4 Working Correctly? Slippery roads are in the future, and it is important to know whether the four-wheel drive is kicking in when you need it. In the worst road conditions, the last thing you want to be imagining is your vehicle losing control and potentially costing money in repairs. The best way to keep yourself from worry is to make sure your Jeep's 4x4 is working. We'll tell you how to test whether your Jeep's 4x4 is working! more What Does My 4x4 Do? So you have a car with four-wheel drive? What does that mean? Your four-wheel drive does not mean that your vehicle is driving with four wheels at all times. When your vehicle is driving down the road, your Jeep will use front-wheel drive, until road conditions leave one wheel without traction. The reason that four-wheel drive is so important is because it will use the other wheels to regain traction. Once traction is regained, the vehicle will return power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is when your vehicle is using all four wheels to move forward at all times. This can decrease your fuel economy by a lot more than four-wheel drive. Both are great options for those looking to drive with more confidence in the winter. Read More: The Jeep Renegade vs Car Seats, Who Won? How do I Know if My Four-Wheel Drive is Working? The easiest way to test if your 4x4 is working is to come up with a way to remove traction from your wheels and cause them all to spin. Test 1: Lift Your Jeep If you have the capability and the tools, lift your Jeep off the ground so that all four tires are off the ground. Then, have a friend watch the tires while you put your foot on the gas. If all the tires are spinning, attempting to find traction, then your four-wheel drive is working just fine! Test 2: The Tree Method If you have a tree in your yard, drive your Jeep so that the front end is touching the tree. Next, hop into the car and hit the gas. Have a friend tell you if all wheels start spinning while you drive against the tree. You don't want to damage your car, so don't let your Jeep hit the tree very hard. If all your wheels kick in to get your car moving, looks like your four-wheel drive is still working!

How Long Does it Take to Warm My Engine? Ice and frigid temperatures are a norm during the winter months in Wisconsin. As a result, our vehicles often have a tough time warming up. Do you find yourself wondering, how long do I warm up my car? We'll give you 3 great tips to remember when warming up your car this winter. more Why Do We Warm Up Our Cars? Vehicle engines use tiny controlled explosions to generate heat and energy. Inside the engine, there are several different fluids and parts that need to work together to make your vehicle run the way its supposed to. So what happens when it's cold out? All the fluids and parts inside your vehicle become stiff and cold, and it takes a little time for the engine to warm up. Read More: Removing Ugly Bumper Stickers 3 Tips for Warming Your Car Drive Your Car to Warm It One of the biggest tips is to only give your car a small warm up, and then to drive it right away. While you might not want to get onto the highway immediately, driving your vehicle is a much more efficient way to warm all the parts without wasting fuel. Just take it easy for the first little bit! Idling Might Do Damage Idling the car for a long time can actually put a strain on your engine. Vehicles are made to be driven, so you are wasting gas when you let your vehicle idle for a long time, and on top of that, you are forcing your engine to work in an abnormal situation which could reduce your fuel efficiency ratings over time. Block Heaters Can Replace a Remote Start While a remote start is a great option for those looking to warm up their vehicle, the convenience can lead to drivers allowing their car to idle for far longer than necessary. Another option available is a block heater, an affordable engine heating device that doesn't use up your fuel and doesn't risk damaging your engine. Call Our Service Center!

Tips for Preventing Rust on Your Chrome Rims Nobody wants to drive a rusty and beat up looking car. However, there are precautions you can take to ensure that rust doesn't ruin the look of your shiny chrome rims. While there is a little maintenance involved, it's well worth the small sacrifice of time and effort. Here are our three tips for keeping your rims rust free. more Chrome Rims Need A Little Help Like all beautiful and shiny things, there's always a chance that the shine can fade. In order to keep things in top shape, you need to make sure that your chrome coating doesn't get chipped or scratched. Chips leave room for oxidation of the metal underneath and will result in rust. Read More: Top 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000 Three Rust Tips for Chrome Wheel Rims The Two Week Rule A clean car won't have rust. It can do a lot of prevention work just to keep your car clean! Wash your vehicle every two weeks, and maybe even once a week if the road conditions have been particularly harsh. Not only will this keep your car looking great, but spending time making sure to get all the dirt off your rims and wheels will help avoid rust damage down the road. Rustproofing Spray When you need a little extra help, a great option is to use rustproofing spray. This spray coats the rims with a thin layer of oil, making sure to grasp onto all the surfaces. This forms a barrier that prevents the oxidation and production of rust on the rims. Sealant Protection This one-time deal can save your vehicle from rust. It's more expensive up-front, but only requires touch-ups and inspections every so often to keep it from allowing potential rust. Professionals apply this coating, but it can't get into the grooves and crannies of the vehicle as well as the rustproofing spray. Don't Miss Out: 2016 Dodge Dart Trim Comparison More Questions About Rust? Wondering about protecting your whole vehicle from rust this year? Give our service team a call and we'll give you great advice and offer our services in helping you keep your car in tip top shape! Here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we love making sure our customers are driving great-looking cars. Contact the Service Technicians Schedule Your Maintenance Appointment

How Do I Know What Tires to Buy in WI? When it comes to shopping for car tires, the process can be daunting. Salesmen are trying to get you to spend more and buy tires before you need them. We'll cover how to tell when you need new tires, and also how to read your tires to find out what size and type you need for your car. Read on to learn more! more Do I Need New Tires? You might wonder if your tires are ready to be replaced. The easiest way to test this is to look for bulges, gouges, or cracks. If you don't see those, grab a penny! Use the penny and stick it into the tread of your tire. Lincoln's head needs to be pointing down. If you can still see the top of his head, you definitely need new tires! Also make sure to check your tire pressure is within a reasonable range. Tires that are losing air are going to have a lower air pressure. Don't miss this! What To Do With A Flooded Car? Measuring My Tires On the side of your tire, there is a string of numbers and letters that help you to see what size tire to purchase. The first letter, assuming you drive a regular car, is a P. This means you drive a passenger vehicle. Say your tires said this: P125/65R15 The next three numbers after the letter "P" measure the tire width in millimeters from the sidewall to the other sidewall. Following the slash mark, the next two numbers indicate the aspect ratio. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the tire sidewalls will be. It measures the height of the tire's cross-section to it's width. The letter "R" is for Radial, meaning that the the layers of the tire run radially. Finally, the last numbers you need are following the letter "R". This tells you the wheel diameter. This is the number that you'll need when researching tires for your car. Check this out! Engine Won't Start? 4 Fast Tips! Some Final Tips For Buying Car Tires in Wisconsin Consider getting a set for winter (snow tires) and getting another set for warmer weather. This can help to make sure your vehicle performs its best in tough road conditions! If you like the tires your vehicle has, buy the exact same ones! There are a great number of differences between tires and it can be difficult to find the best ones. Why fix something that isn't broken? OUR SERVICE CENTER Have any other tips for buying car tires? Leave them in the comments section below!

4 Good Reasons Your Jeep Engine Won't Start One of the worst feelings is the fateful day when you climb into your car to leave for work to find that it won't start. Whether it's turning over and simply not starting, or giving you complete silence when you turn the key, it's not good. We're here to give you some tips on why your Jeep engine isn't starting and what to do to get back on the road as quickly as possible. more Complete Silence When You Turn the Key: Open the hood and take a look at your car battery. If the cables look corroded and dirty, take a screw driver (with a wooden or insulated handle) and force it between the connector and the battery terminal. Twist slightly to lodge it in there firmly. If the engine starts, you need new cables! There's A Clicking Noise, But That's It: This usually indicates a dead battery. In this situation you can jump your engine or get a new battery. READ MORE: The Pope Loves His Jeep The Engine Turns Over but Won't Start: If this is happening, take a look at the fuel lines running to your engine. If that all looks good, there's a chance your spark plugs aren't receiving the spark. There's also a chance that your vehicle's security system is malfunctioning. On older vehicles, especially, this can be a real issue. If you are worried that your vehicle's security system is activated, simply put your key in the ignition and turn it without trying to start the engine. Leave it in for at least 15 mins and then remove the key before attempting to start the engine. The Engine Won't Start on Rainy Days The issue here might be dampness under your distributer cap! Unscrew this cap and look underneath. If there is moisture, stop by your nearest service department and purchase some mechanic's solvent or buy an aerosol can of it. Clean the cap with it and make sure to dry it thoroughly. Make sure the solvent is clean! Even a small amount of dirt can ruin the process! READ MORE: Win A Free Garage Makeover From Dodge! None of These Tips Helping? Give our qualified service team a call. We love to help our customers get their vehicles running and back on the road as quickly as possible. We are sure we have a solution to help you get your engine running! CONTACT US OUR SERVICE CENTER

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.

How Do you Fix Flood Damage in the Car? Flooding is a harsh reality for many who live in places that receive heavy rain during the spring and summer. With the rain comes potential for flooding, and if your car gets stuck in the middle of it, it can result in extensive damage. So how do you fix flood damage in the car? We'll give you some starting tips and tricks to get the clean-up process going! more There are a few important things to remember before trying to clean up your flooded vehicle. When in doubt, have it towed to a trusted service center. Do not start the engine unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure that there is no water in any part of it. Contact your insurance company before doing anything to make sure you understand what is covered and what they need you to do. READ MORE: Does My Use Struts or Shocks? Now that you've taken care of the basics, you should try these next steps to minimize any damage. Find out how much water your car was in: Usually the water will leave a line along the side of the vehicle if it reached above the tires. If it was below the doors, your car is most likely okay. Any higher and you are looking at some work ahead. Try and soak up some water: Despite the fact that the mold will grow quickly, you might be able to keep it at bay by pulling out all the floor mats and other removable fabric. If the water reached the upholstery, there's a good chance you'll have to replace it to avoid mold. Check all the fluids: This means the oil, transmission, brake, power steering, fuel... all of them. Any water contamination can mean serious damage without being flushed first. If there is water in any of these fluids, it's important to bring it to a service center, pronto! READ MORE: Why Does My Manual Suggest Premium Fuel? Even if your vehicle passes most of these tests and you work to repair damage, there's a high likelihood that the vehicle will experience issues related to the flood down the road. This might mean months, weeks, or even years. It might make sense in some situations to have the vehicle totaled and to find a new one! We hope that these tips help to get you out of a messy situation easily and affordably. Nobody likes the hassle of a flooded car, but when it happens, your friendly team at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine is here to help! Give us a call and we'll make sure we get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

Every vehicle on the road has its own set of either struts or shocks. There are a few important things that these parts do for you and your vehicle, and a few ways to tell if you need to get them replaced. So you want to know how to tell if your car has struts or shocks? We'll tell you that and more, so keep reading! more The first step in figuring out what your vehicle has, is understanding what the parts do. We see shocks on many different forms of transportation, but most visibly on bikes. The idea of cushioning the rider from bumps in the road is one of the most noticeable things that the shocks or struts do, however they also serve the purpose of keeping the vehicle from shifting horizontally while on the road. So, on top of saving you from a bouncy and uncomfortable ride, the struts or shocks handle side-to-side motion, thus making the vehicle much safer on the road. Your vehicle's stability is very important in tough road conditions and bad weather, so you have a lot of pressure on your strut or shocks. READ MORE: Bad Car Sounds that Mean Trouble So what's the difference between them? It's mostly a matter of how they look and where they are. Shocks are more easily picked out because they look a lot like what we see on bikes. They are big springs that are there to keep your car from bouncing around. They absorb the shocks from the road. A strut, on the other hand, is horizontal and harder to see. They are usually right inside the wheels and almost look like they are a part of the wheel itself. Do you need to replace them? The general rule for replacing shocks or struts is every 50,000 miles, but there is a way to test them to see whether it's time. Stand in front and push down on the vehicle's bumper. If the vehicle comes back up and bounces more than twice, there's a good chance that you need to replace your struts or shocks. READ MORE: New Jeep Renegade in Music Video Not sure what you think about your shocks or struts? Give our service center a call or schedule an appointment to see us online. We would be happy to take a look at your vehicle and make sure that everything is running the way it should.

is premium gasoline better than the cheaper gasoline? Going to the gas station can be puzzling for those that don't know which gas is best for their vehicle. There are several different options for fuel and each one comes with a different price. You may wonder to yourself, " is premium gasoline better than the cheaper gasoline? " We are here today to answer that question and tell you why! more Premium fuel comes at a premium cost. But what is the point? Why pay more for gasoline? How do you know if your car needs premium gasoline? It all begins in your owner's manual. Open it up and look to see what fuel it suggests. An engine that has a higher compression rate needs higher octane fuel to keep it from knocking. You will notice a knocking engine as it is often very audible. This is not a good sound to hear, and can be avoided by using premium gasoline. However, if your vehicle only suggests premium, you are most likely safe to purchase the cheaper lower octane fuel without risking a knocking engine. There are a couple myths involved with the purchase of vehicle fuel. The first is that the premium fuel keeps the engine cleaner. This is not true as all fuel companies are required to put engine cleaning fluid in with their gasoline to prevent build up. The second myth is that premium gasoline performs better than lower octane fuel. While there may be a very slight difference in performance, it is not enough to justify the more expensive price. Simply put, the premium fuel works the same as cheaper fuel in vehicles that don't need it. But a vehicle that does require premium fuel will suffer problems if the lower octane fuel is used instead. How is your engine running? Have you had a spring vehicle inspection ye t? Now is the time! During the month of May we are offering great deals on things like oil changes and new tires. Interested in looking at a newer vehicle for the summer months? Check out our large inventory of new and previously owned vehicles at very affordable prices. As always, our team of automotive experts are happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to hearing from you soon!