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Is It Worth it to Wax New Cars? Yes, it’s time consuming, but even though it takes a little time and energy, the payoff can be great. So you’ve come here wondering, “ is it worth it to wax new cars?” We are here to discuss the benefits of waxing your car and how often you should do it. more Cars that were made before the 1980’s had less protection on the surface than cars that are made now. A natural top coat on cars today does a pretty fantastic job of protecting from the everyday elements, but older cars were much more easily damaged. Because of this, the wax was absolutely needed to protect the car’s surface. With today’s great technology, wax is more efficient, and cars need it less often. However, it does have some great benefits. Waxing a vehicle makes it look shiny and impressive. Cleaning the windows and giving it a wash is a great start, but wax truly makes a car look special. Many people even state that the waxing process is a great way to take pride in the appearance of their vehicle, and is a calming activity. Giving your car a wax is a great way to make it look great, but it also adds another layer of protection from scratches that lead to oxidation and further damage. New cars might have better protection than previous years vehicles, but it’s definitely worth an extra layer if you love your car! Since waxes are so much more effective these days, the process needs to be done less frequently than before. Any more than 5 times a year is excessive, but one wax in the fall and one in the spring is the perfect amount. Harsher weather is experienced in the winter, and so a wax before that season can keep your car looking it’s best. Here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Racine, we want you to drive in a beautiful and efficient vehicle. Come in to see us today to get your car looking great, feeling great, and driving the way it used to.

Bad Car Sounds that Need to be Repaired Quickly How’s your car sounding these days? Are you ignoring sounds your vehicle makes, just hoping they aren’t a big deal? While this is okay with certain things, like the sound of your kids fighting in the back seat, your vehicle often gives you a clue as to how it’s feeling based on the noises it makes when on the road. Here’s our list of bad car sounds that need to be repaired quickly, before more damage is done. more Creaks and squeaks are common in vehicles, and should not always be a reason for alarm. Here is our list of sounds to keep an ear out for, and what may be causing them. Noises when you turn the corner? Steering linkage issues might be the reason. Get it lubed up or replaced to avoid any bigger issues! Clanks and clunks when you brake? Get the brake system checked for parts missing, damaged, or wrongly mounted. It’s not worth risking brake issues. Get this looked at! Flapping sounds coming from under the hood? This is most likely a belt or fan issue. Belts tend to wear out and your fan is necessary to keep your engine cool. Either of these issues need to be fixed quickly to avoid bigger problems. Does your engine sound like a hissing angry cat or an over-boiling pot? That means there is a leak that is pouring onto your very hot engine. Check your oil, coolant, and vacuum lines. Patching these up will keep your vehicle running better. Hear a loud bang from the tailpipe? That means that you are experiencing a backfire or your catalytic converter isn’t doing its job. When there is too much fuel left in the air of the exhaust it can cause small explosions. Not good. Gravel sounds when you use your brakes? Yeah. That’s fixable, but only if you hurry! Your brake pads are worn through and every time you use them you are killing your rotors. Bring it into the service center, and fast! Well that concludes our list, but there are lots more things that could be making a sound when you drive. If you have any questions and want advice, feel free to give us a call at Palmen to speak with one of our technicians. We can help you decide whether you need to bring in your car for repairs. Tired of the whole repair and problem solving situation? Fill out this trade-in form to see what we can offer as an exchange for your vehicle. We can work with your budget to create a financing package and get you into a newer and more efficient vehicle.

So you’ve noticed that your vehicle seems to be losing oil between oil changes. This can be because of a number of things, and many of which are rather expensive to fix. Leaking or lost oil can cause your engine harm if it is not replaced, and is not a good sign. Older cars experience this quite often, so the problem is not rare. Is it normal for my engine car to burn oil between oil changes? No. We’ll help you diagnose the problem. more So why does an engine burn fuel? Eventually the parts that have oil flowing through them become worn out like any other piece of the car. You get your brakes changed, but we don’t often get parts of our engine replaced because the process is tedious and expensive. Burning oil in an older car might even require a new engine. How do you tell if you are burning oil? Well if you check your oil level between changes and notice that you have less than you should, it means you are losing oil one way or another. Whether it is burning, or leaking, the results can range from a loss in power to a vehicle that doesn’t run, all depending on the severity of the problem. Before you try and get this fixed, take a minute to notice what symptoms your car is showing. Burning oil is usually indicated by blue smoke. Your engine pushed oil through a few different parts. Most of the time, the piston rings or valve seals will wear out and need to be replaced. If your valve seals are worn or broken, you will see blue smoke when you first start the engine. If your piston rings are damaged, the oil will leak out around the seals and the blue smoke will show when you are driving or when you are idling, depending on how bad the leak is. In either of these situations, it means that your engine needs serious work. Replacing piston rings or valve seals is expensive and tricky. You may want to consider getting a new engine, if they are available from a reputable source, or even looking to trade in and purchase a vehicle that runs more efficiently. Worries over car troubles can cause a lot of stress. If you are interested in taking a look at our selection of high-quality used vehicles, follow this link. Give us a call for any questions you have about fixing your oil burning car, or getting yourself into a newer one that fits into your budget. Our friendly and experienced team of professionals are always here to help!

spring cleaning checklist for the car Racine WI If you are anything like most people, climbing out of the wintery months of freezing cold temperatures and horrible road conditions seems like an uphill battle. A great way to greet the spring weather is to clean up your car and get it shiny and new looking again. We’ll give you our spring cleaning checklist for the car Racine WI. Trust us, it’s worth doing! more Spring is almost here, so we want to help you get ready to enjoy summer without driving around in a sad wintery car. Here’s the list of things to clean: First, take out the trash. It’s bound to have built up, and that is always the best place to start when you are cleaning out a car. Next, vacuum the inside from top to bottom. Pull out your dirty floor mats and make sure to vacuum in all the nooks and crannies! Grab some automotive carpet cleaner and scrub things up. Start with the floor and work your way up over the seats. This step might not be mandatory, but it sure does make a difference! Wash those grubby floor mats. After all the salt and mud has built up and they will last much longer if you get them cleaned up every once in a while. Change out your windshield wipers. This is important if they aren’t doing their job. Getting stuck in a summer rainstorm with bad wipers is a recipe for disaster and dangerous driving. Lube up your hinges. This means doors and the trunk hinges. This way they won’t squeak and will wear out less quickly. Clean the windows. Grab your Windex and get to work. This will make driving in the muggy spring and summer weather much easier. Wash the outside of the car. You want to go from top to bottom, as salt has built up from the roads. Also try to really flush out the underbody. Road salt is not supposed to hang out there. Don’t forget your usual maintenance! Getting your oil changed and putting on tires with enough tread are two important things to do regularly. Getting the fuel system cleaned and adding washer fluid are also great ways to make sure you are all set for spring weather! If you are in need of spring maintenance or repairs, our service professionals are the perfect people for the job! Give us a call or set up an appointment online. We look forward to seeing you and to the summer weather that is on its way!

Mopar parts in Racine WI From over 20,000 eligible participants nationwide, our own service center team member Anthony Ramirez has been selected as one of just 27 technicians to be a part of the 2015 Mopar "Top Tech" program. He'll travel to a two-day event at the Chrysler World Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan in January to participate in tours, meetings, a Detroit Auto Show industry preview, and much more. We're very proud of this honor, and we hope if you're looking for Mopar parts in Racine WI you'll consider coming here to Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine to have them installed by the best in the business! more When you need parts or accessories for your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram vehicle, we aim to make it as easy as possible for you to get that taken care of quickly and efficiently -- in fact, you can even order your parts with us online. Simply fill out the form on this page giving us information about your vehicle, the part or parts you need, and  how we can get in touch with you, and we'll get the ball rolling on that right away. Questions on which parts you need for an at-home job? Our specialists are on-hand to help you get it all figured out. With years of experience and combined knowledge, our team has been assembled with a wide range of customers in mind. And of course, if you'd rather have your parts installed here at our shop, we've got great technicians like Anthony who can get it done for you with the utmost precision and care. Email our parts department if you'd like to know more. When it comes to today's top accessories for Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, and Dodge vehicles, Mopar is on top of the game nationwide. From racks and mats to safety kits and remote start systems, whatever you need to make your ride more enjoyable is available through our parts department!

Tips and Advice for new car owners Whether it's your first time owning a new car or it's just been a while, there are some things to keep in mind just after buying a new car that could help you a lot down the road, particularly if you think you'd like to sell or trade it in at some point. You want to help your vehicle retain as much value as possible, though it's important to be realistic about auto depreciation. Your new car will never again be worth as much as it is in the moment before you drive off the lot, but there's a lot you can do to help it hold on to as much value as possible. Here are our top tips and advice for new car owners: more 1. Read your owner's manual. Yes, read the entire thing. If that sounds crazy, we counter with this: Maybe it's crazy to own such a complex and valuable thing and not know how it works and how it's meant to be taken care of. In the manual, you'll find out valuable nuggets like how often your specific vehicle needs an oil change (hint: it's not always 3,000 miles), how various features work, and of course the ever-lingering question of how to change your clock for daylight savings time. It's all there -- read it! 2. Speaking of scheduled maintenance, you need to be keeping a detailed record of your service appointments. That is, save and file all receipts from oil changes, tire rotation, check-ups, and repairs. If you can produce this at the time of a potential sale to show that you took care of your vehicle and maintained careful records, this is a huge boost for your credibility as a seller and proof that you didn't neglect your vehicle. 3. Drive nice! Whether you've got a lead foot or a case of recurring road rage, resolve to create new habits with the acquisition of this new vehicle. Nothing adds unnecessary wear and tear to all systems like aggressive driving. When it comes time to sell, these habits will show in the condition of the vehicle, and it'll cost you. Questions about how to take the best possible care of a new vehicle? Feel free to ask our sales or service representatives for more tips!

Winter tire specials Racine WI We've got your new winter tires here! A while back, we talked about whether a 4x4 or all-wheel drive system is necessary, and one of the things we pointed out is that if you've got electronic stability control and a good pair of winter tires, it's not always necessary to have an advanced drivetrain as well. If you're thinking about preparing for the inevitably long Wisconsin winter ahead by getting some new, road-gripping tires on your vehicle, then chances are you know they're not always the world's cheapest investment. If you're seriously considering it anyway, you also know that they tend to be worth it. Now, your objective is to find winter tire specials in Racine that will give you the benefits of snow tires without breaking the bank. Look no further! more How about snow tires for your Jeep Cherokee? We've got a couple tire related specials here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine for the month of October 2014 that may interest you. One is a complimentary two year road hazard protection plan with the purchase and installation of select tires. So if you buy your snow tires with us and hit a big nasty pothole once the snow starts to melt at winter's end, you've got complete repair protection. This offer expires on the 31st, so if you want tires that come with some additional peace of mind in case something happens to them, now's your chance! Click here to view and print this and other great service coupons! Another big concern is, "Am I getting the lowest price on my tires?" We've got another deal going through the end of the month that should interest you if that's your concern, and it's a 30-day price match guarantee on select tire purchases. That is, if you're able to find a better price than ours within 30 days of your purchase, we'll refund you the difference to make sure you get that lower price that's out there. There's nothing worse than making a major purchase and then seeing it for cheaper a few days later. That won't happen with us -- and if it does, you're covered! If you have any questions about our tire selection, which brands are included in our specials, or any other questions for our service department, give us a call or stop in today!

Ram Promaster Recall 2014 Think your van might be recalled? Let us find out for you. It's never a good time to hear about a recall on one of your vehicles, especially one that keeps your family or, perhaps in this case, your business up and running and on the go. Lost time getting repairs might mean lost time on the road doing what your vehicle is meant to do -- get work done, that is! Here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we understand that it's a frustrating and sometimes stressful process, but it's one we want to be as straightforward and helpful as possible in getting you the repairs or replacements necessary to keep things running smoothly so you don't have to miss a beat. If you think your vehicle may be affected by the Ram Promaster recall in 2014, let us guide you through the process. more The first thing you'll want to do, of course, is determine that your particular vehicle is definitely one of the Ram Promaster vans involved in the recall. After all, if it's not, you can go about your day! Here's how you'll find out: About 18,951 vans are expected to need service to replace the head restraints. If yours is among them, you'll be receiving a letter from the Chrysler Group which details the situation and what you'll need to do next. If you don't want to wait for answers, you can call us or fill out this form to help determine whether your van is recalled, or you can call the Chrysler Group Customer Information Center at 1-800-853-1403. If you find that your vehicle is involved in the recall, you should know two things: one, Chrysler Group is not currently aware of and injuries or complaints related to the issue, which is that the head restraints may exceed the gap between a passenger's head and the restraint that is allowable by today's safety standards. The second thing you should know is that the parts are being expedited to dealerships and that you can bring your Promaster in to us here at our service center and have the necessary replacements made at no cost to you. Just give us a call to set it all up. We apologize for any inconvenience and if you're affected by the recall we look forward to helping you out efficiently and quickly!

How Take Care of Your Windshield There is nothing better than having perfect visibility of everything around you. One sleeps so much better knowing that the road is clear from here on. What might require you to have a clear vision? Perhaps a cup of coffee in the morning or putting on your favorite pair of jeans and going for an afternoon out in town. However, when it comes to your time on the road, a clear vision requires that your vehicle’s windshield wipers stay ready to go at all times. Here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we want to make sure that you know how take care of your windshield to keep the future clear for you. more Don't let anything obscure your path First, you have to learn where everything comes from. If you open the hood of your vehicle, you will find a plastic container where your windshield wiper liquid is. Did you find it? Perfect. Now check how full it is. Remember to always keep this liquid full with the proper solution available for you on the market. But don’t just use any detergent, because it could leave residue that could block your vision. And see the sun shine through ... Now, you have to make sure that you use the right type for your vehicle. Some liquids are concentrated, which means that you have to take an extra step and mix them with water before pouring them into your vehicle. If your area code finishes with cold, think about using a premixed solution that contains antifreeze. This will help your windshield stay clean and the liquid not to freeze up underneath the hood. Remember that here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we care about your safety and of those who travel along with you. Contact us for more information on how to take care of your vehicle, about new models or even financing! Our expert sales representatives will be happy to help you every step of the way.

2014 Dodge Journey in Racine WI The name says it all. The 2014 Dodge Journey will be be your best companion along the road. Think of it as more than just a vehicle. This will be your best friend in every climate, road, or city! With its modern look, technological advanced features and a modern look that supplies great fuel efficiency,This vehicle will be your loyal companion in any adventure you face ahead. Come and check out what the 2014 Dodge Journey in Racine WI has to offer and come along for the ride of your life. more Technology where you need it. Brain where you want it. The days where you worried about who was going to come to the trips up the mountains or who could be invited to the beach are over! The 2014 Dodge Journey in Racine WI provides you with the ability to bring everybody and their cargo along with you with the available seven-passenger seating. Everybody is invited to come along this quest with you. And that is not all! With the second-row seat, available third-row seat and available fold-flat front passenger seat folded, you get up to 67.6 cubic feet of cargo space. There will be no more debating! Everything will have a place in this amazing vehicle. And the technology is never lacking! The Electronic Stability Control combines the Antilock Brake System and All-Speed Traction Control help to keep you on track in a variety of road surface and weather conditions. The 2014 Dodge Journey not only takes you where you need to go, but it gets you there safely. And don’t think that this is just a machine. The 2014 Dodge Journey is a lot of fun, too! Stay connected with all those around you with the 8.4-inch Uconnect Touchscreen. This available feature allows you to keep track of the weather, your calls, entertainment, and the fuel efficiency of your vehicle in the city or the highway. Why wait?! Gen in contact with one of our expert representatives here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine and let us inform you about financing possibilities. Your ride is waiting for you right now!

How to Store Your Car With the end of the summer coming along, many would love to end it with a trip! This might mean leaving your vehicle behind but that should be no problem if you follow these tips for how to store your car. Just keep in touch with us here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine to figure out the best treatments for your vehicle. more Say welcome to the road Your bags are packed, you are ready to go, but now what? You have to start by changing the oil and filter in your old car or new vehicle. Keep your family happy and moving If the car is being stored for an extended period of time, give us a call and set up a n appointment with our service center in order to obtain a kind of oil that contains no additives. Also, in order to prevent problems like condensation in the tank, fill the fuel tank with fresh, premium fuel. In order to avoid any empty spaces where water can accumulate, it is better for your engine that you try a non-alcoholic fuel. Now this is a fun fact: if you want to take care of your windshield, place a piece of plastic wrap under the wiper blades in order to prevent the rubber from sticking to the glass. If you opt for removing the blades, be sure to pad the ends of the wipers arms, which can scratch the glass if inadvertently turned on. We all need a little extra care in order to stay healthy. This also goes for your vehicle! Think about it before you travel so that when you come back, it stays running and powerful for your and your family.

Right Way of Storing a Car With the end of the summer closing in on us, many have amazing adventures and plans to end this summer the right way. However, we cannot forget our loyal companion when we leave the house. Between dust and nature, you car can accumulate very dangerous residuals or have major internal malfunctions if left improperly unattended for long periods of time. This is why here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we want to teach you the right way of storing a car for when your journey involves getting on a plane or a boat and leaving your vehicle behind. more Let's keep the adventure rolling! The first step is simple: All you have to start by doing is change the oil and filter. If you are planning on leaving your car stored for a long period of time, talk to one of our expert representatives at our service center to have your car filled with oil without additives, which may have slightly caustic detergents. And leave those who you love safe and read for when you come back. Then, revise the fuel tank and fill it up with fresh, premium fuel. Condensation can become a problem in stored vehicles, so using Premium non-alcohol fuel will avoid any empty spaces where water can accumulate. In addition, try to use a gasoline stabilizer so that the gasoline doesn’t become gummy over time. Close the hood and check underneath the car to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. Here is a tip for you: Over inflation while in storage may help a flat spot and after storage, you might feel some thumping tires, which will go away after they have been driven around 10 miles. Think of it sort of like muscle memory. Lastly, we recommend that you cover your vehicle if you are leaving it outdoors or in a very dusky or windy location. This will impede water vapor from leaving the car after a humid temperature. Remember to take care of the vehicle that helps you get by so that it stays in great condition for when you and your family return.