Blog

There are certain wives tales that we all believe about driving, and some of them can be expensive to live by! If you are worried that you have been misinformed about important vehicle facts like oil changes and the safety of making hands-free phone calls, then read on! We'll tell you about three of the most popular driving myths you've believed your whole life, and you can let us know what you think in the comments section below! Three Popular Driving Myths You Shouldn't Believe Anymore Myth 1: Red cars get pulled over more often Common sense helps us understand and believe this myth, but it simply isn't true! Police are just as likely to pull over vehicles of any color. However, more sports cars are pulled over than other vehicles, and more sports cars are red than other vehicles. This comes down to the drivers' habits. Those who drive fast cars are more likely to speed, and therefore get pulled over more often. Read More: Do I Need to Wax My Old Car? Myth 2: Warming up your car before driving If you drive a vehicle that is less than 10 years old, then there is a good chance that you need to do very little warming of your engine before hitting the road. Newer engines are made to warm up more quickly as you begin driving, so it is merely a waste of fuel to allow your vehicle to sit in the driveway idling for a long time before getting in! Read More:  How Long Do I Warm Up My Car? Myth 3: Fill your car with premium fuel every once in a while There is a myth that filling your vehicle with premium fuel every once in a while will help to clean out the engine and keep things running more smoothly. However, all fuel grades are required to have the detergents and cleaning capability that the premium fuel has. In fact, putting premium fuel in your engine will not to anything to improve the performance. Your vehicle was made to run a certain grade of fuel, and it's always best to stick to that when filling up. Read More:  What's So Great About Premium Gas? Check Out Our latest Jeep Inventory!

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! 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!

So you're driving down the road and you notice that your tire is flat. This is not a great thing to happen, but when you have to get the job done, it's important to do it as safely and quickly as possible. We'll tell you how to change a Dodge Dart flat tire on the side of the road, so read on! Three Easy Steps to Change a Tire Step 1: Park and Gather Your Tools Pull your vehicle to the side of the road and put it in park. It's very important to ensure that your car cannot roll forward or backward during the process of changing the tire. The tools you will need are a spare tire, a car jack, and a tire iron or a wrench for loosening the bolts. Read More: Preventing Rust Rims Step 2: Prepare to Lift the Car Place the jack underneath your vehicle. There should be a specific spot on the suspension that has the support to hold the weight. If you aren't sure where you should put the jack, read through your owners' manual. Once you have the jack in position, raise it until it is supporting the weight of the vehicle but the wheel is still on the ground. Now, take your tire iron or wrench and loosen the bolts that are holding the wheel onto the hub. These are going to be tight, so be prepared to use some effort in this step. Read More: Car Seat Expiration Dates? Step 3: Jack It Up and Replace the Tire Now you want to raise the jack until the wheel is just barely off of the ground. Fully remove the bolts and set them aside for later. Slide the wheel off of the hub and set it out of the way. Now slide the new wheel onto the hub and secure the new wheel with the bolts. It's very important to tighten these bolts, so be sure to spend some energy there. Safety Blog Posts Once you are confident that the bolts are tight, you are ready to drive! Make sure to collect all your tools and get back on the road. Be careful with your tire and listen to it on the way home to ensure everything is working the way it should.

Winter Items for Your Jeep in Wisconsin Much like our children, our cars need maintenance and attention all year, and not just at Christmas. However, there are a few things you can pick up and give to your vehicle this Christmas season that are sure to improve performance and add convenience to your daily drive. We'll tell you 3 perfect Christmas gifts you can give your Jeep. 3 Things Your Car Needs this Winter All-Season Floor Mats: You and your passengers can try not to bring snow and dirt into the car when you're climbing in, but let's face the truth. We all know that the floors of our cars get pretty dirty in the winter. Safe yourself the trouble of scrubbing the carpeting this spring and bring home some all-season floor mats to protect your vehicle's interior. An Alarm for Lost Car Keys: One example of this is the Kensington Proximo. With all of us using smartphones these days, the struggle of losing your car keys could be over much more quickly than ever before! All you have to do is attach the device to your keys like a key chain, and when you cannot find them, you simply text a number that causes the device to make noises, thus alerting you to the location of your keys. Splash Guards/ Mud Flaps: Keeping your car clean in the winter is hard enough without the salt and dirt from the road landing on it. Washing your car almost seems futile when there is no possibility of keeping the exterior free from dirt. Our suggestion for a good solution would be to buy some splash guards or mud flaps for your Jeep. These might not stop your kids from throwing snowballs at your car, but they will certainly help while on the road! Check Out Our Jeep Inventory for 2016

Why You Should Pay Attention to Your Car Seat Expiration Date Did you know that up until the height of 4 ft. and 9 in., a child should be sitting in a booster or car seat while you're on the road? It's safe to say that our kids are the most precious cargo in our vehicles, so it's important to be aware of the safety regulations. Keeping your precious cargo safe is important to the team here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, so read on to learn more about car seat safety for your kids! Buying Used or Borrowing Car Seats Car seats are made specially to provide a safe riding experience for your kids. Whether they are riding in a booster seat or a full car seat, there are aspects to consider. Do you know the history of the car seat? When it comes to buying a used car seat, or borrowing one from a friend, it's important to know who used it, for how long, and whether it is damaged. If you buy a car seat without knowing its history, it can be worn out or broken and therefore unsafe for your child. Read More: Warming Up Your Car Faster and Easier A car seat should never be used after the vehicle was in a car crash. Even if the seat was not in use at the time of the crash, the impact may have damaged the important parts that keep your kids safe. If the car seat has been through a minor crash, one where the vehicle safely drove away, there were no injuries to any vehicle occupants, and the airbags didn't deploy, the seat may still be safe to use. Go with your gut on that one and remember it's better to be safe than sorry! Look over the seat and make sure all the parts and pieces are present and look good. You wouldn't risk your life driving a vehicle that looked like it was going to fall apart, so it's important to have your children in car and booster seats that are in great condition. Read More: When to Let Your Kids Drive Alone Do Car Seat Expiration Dates Matter? When you're thinking of buying or borrowing a car seat, be sure to check its expiration date! You wouldn't want to feed your children food that has gone past the expiration date, and it works the same way with their potentially life-saving car seats. Plastic becomes brittle and breaks easily with age, and most car seats are made from plastic. Replacing a car seat is much less costly than the potential safety issues with a child riding in a broken seat. Read More: Teaching Kids About Washing the Car

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! 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!

Miles or Years More Important When Buying a Used Car? When you're looking for that perfect combination of affordability and reliability, the used car market can be stressful. There are so many different choices available and it can be risky to drive home in a vehicle that was previously owned by someone else. If you find yourself wondering, "are miles or years more important when buying a used car," then we are here to help. Keep reading to learn more about choosing the perfect used car. Are Highway Miles Better Than City Miles? The short answer is yes. If you are buying a used car and it has a lot of miles on it, it's probably a better buy if the vehicle was driven primarily on the highway. City driving requires more frequent stops and accelerations. Doing that more often puts a bigger strain on your vehicle and can lead to parts wearing out or needing replacement more frequently. Highway miles, while still important to consider, are easier on the vehicle overall because the engine is not being forced to work with extremes of stopping and going. Read More: Preventing Rust on Rims Is it Better to Buy an Older Vehicle with Fewer Miles? So if the number of miles is throwing you off, you might consider an older vehicle with less miles under its belt. This can be a great way to save money, but also comes with considerations. If a vehicle is more than 9 years old and has only 30,000 miles on it, there's a good chance that it wasn't driven regularly. A vehicle that spent a lot of time sitting outside or in the garage without being driven is prone to issues and parts needing to be replaced. Certain things like hoses and filters are likely to wear out when unused. Read More: Jeep Renegade in Top 10 Coolest Affordable Cars How Can I Be Sure the Vehicle is a Safe Choice? If you are questioning a used vehicle, there are two great ways to check on its history and maintenance. The first thing is to use a vehicle history check. Most dealerships will offer a free vehicle history on used cars, showing things like maintenance and repair at service centers throughout the vehicle's life. However, if the car in question was maintained or repaired at home, those records will not show up. The best way to get a good idea of the reliability of a vehicle is to have it inspected by a trusted technician. If you get the green light from someone you trust, you are more likely to drive home in a reliable used car.

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. 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. 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 Get Rid of Old Bumper Stickers on My Car? Have you recently purchased a used vehicle and found that there is an ugly bumper sticker left there from the previous owner? Are you looking to sell your car and wondering how you can take a little of your personality and love for bumper stickers off the back end? We'll tell you two great methods for removing those bumper stickers quickly and easily! The Blow Dryer Method Step 1: Use a blow dryer to heat up the whole bumper sticker. You are loosening the glue. Step 2: Once you've taken a long time to really get the sticker good and warmed up, start at one corner and peel it. You want to make sure you are pulling the corner over the rest of the sticker, not towards you or straight up. Step 3: Once the sticker is off, take an adhesive cleaner and clean any excess glue off the vehicle. You might need to reapply wax afterwards! Read More: When is it Time to Let Your Kids Drive Alone? The Slippery Method Step 1: Get out your favorite spray lubricant. Step 2: Peel up one corner of the sticker enough to grab onto, and while spraying the underside of the sticker, slowly peel more off. Step 3: Keep peeling till the sticker is all the way off. Clean the remaining glue with an adhesive remover and re-wax the area of the car. Read More: 13 Tips for Buying a Used Car in 2015 Bumper Sticker Remnants Won't Come Off If you have any additional questions regarding the service or maintenance of your vehicle exterior, the team here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine are surely here to help. We will do our best to answer any questions you have, and if you need us to detail clean your vehicle, we are sure we can take care of any remaining bumper sticker mess. Service Center Coupons Call Our Service Center

Is my Son or Daughter Ready to Drive Without an Adult? When your kids begin to drive, whether they're still learning or they have been learning for a while, the idea of letting them take the car out for a spin all alone is pretty terrifying. There is a lot of responsibility in driving a vehicle alone, and you might wonder if your kids are ready to handle that much pressure. We'll cover some tips to help you know when they are ready to drive on their own. They Lack Experience Much like learning any new job or skill, experience and practice are the only good ways to become a reliable driver. After taking the classes and practicing with you, your kids might know the rules of the road and be prepared to handle driving in normal conditions. However, it's difficult to say whether they are prepared to take on any sort of irregular or difficult driving decisions. Read More: What We Love About the Jeep Renegade Attention is Lacking While adults can become distracted, it's a much more prevalent issue in younger drivers. Young people in general have a mind that is constantly wandering and it can lead to tricky driving. Things like music, texting, and other people in the car, have led to collisions and accidents with younger drivers. It's important to ensure that your young driver pays attention to the road, and not distractions inside the vehicle. Read More: Tips for Relieving Back Pain While Driving Questions to Ask Yourself When you are trying to decide whether your teenage driver is ready to hit the road alone, it can be helpful to ask yourself these questions about the mentality of your son or daughter. Does he/she usually follow the rules? Does he/she understand and take responsibility to consequences of decisions/actions? Does he/she stand firm under peer pressure? These questions can make it easier for you to decide whether your young driver is ready to handle the constant pressure and responsibility of sitting behind the wheel. If your driver is a stable and responsible driver, then it might be time to let them hit the road on their own! Time and experience are they only ways to learn about driving, so it's best to give them the space to do so! Read More: Can you Eat and Drive in Wisconsin?

How to Pick The Right Used Car When you are in the market for a newer vehicle, but you don't have the funds to afford the newest and brightest edition, there are lots of options out there. Buying a used car can be a great way to save money, but it's important to go through the process and find the right one! We'll give you some great tips for buying the right car in 2015, and how to spot issues you'll want to avoid. Read on! Getting Started: Preparation is Key! Get pre-approved for a vehicle loan to see what your budget looks like. List what you want and need in a newer car. This will help keep you grounded during the search process. Read reviews for vehicles you are interested in to learn about what their faults and issues could be. Consider Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. These have been thoroughly inspected and are likely to spend less time in the shop after you purchase. Check This Out! Choosing the Right New Tires Check the Vehicle History: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You! Ask the vehicle seller for a history report. This will show any major repairs and maintenance done at a service center for your vehicle throughout its life. Check for open recalls on the vehicle, and ask the dealership whether the repair has been performed. Test Drive and Inspect: Hidden Issues Can Be Dangerous Make a check list of the features and options you want to test in the specific vehicle model you are test driving. Look over the vehicle before taking it for a drive. Ask the seller about anything that doesn't look normal or any rust issues. Those escalate quickly. Test everything. Lights, air conditioner, heater and all controls. (for newer vehicles, test the Bluetooth and other high-tech features as well!) Check the tires! If they are old and need to be replaced, it can mean hundreds of dollars after the vehicle purchase. Take that into account when discussing the price. Test drive with the radio off. You want to be able to hear and feel any issues with the way the vehicle drives without distraction. Don't Miss This! Engine Won't Start? Quick Tips! Buying From a Dealership Get as much of the buying process done online and then go in to finish everything up on a weekday when the dealership is less busy. This can make things go more quickly! If you are trading-in a vehicle, bring an estimated trade-in price from online along to the negotiation. It might help you to get a better deal! Those are our tips for buying a used car this year. If you have any questions or concerns, give us a call or leave a comment in the comments section below. We love helping our customers drive home in the perfect car! We're here to help! Our Used Vehicle Inventory Schedule A Test Drive Get Pre-Approved for A Vehicle Loan