Spring is here! In my house, we have a totally different name for this time of year, and it’s “Allergy Season.” I have really terrible allergies all year round, but when the warmer weather hits I have to add a couple Benadryl a night and a Flonase spritz in the morning to my allergy medicine routine just to stay alive during the day. So, based on this, you can probably assume that I like to try and keep allergens down in the spaces I occupy on a daily basis. This includes my car! If you’re like me and suffer terribly from the pollen in the air in the spring, I’m sharing my tips for making your car a haven of clean air and very little pollen contamination so that you can breathe easy on your way to wherever you’re headed!

The first tip is to vacuum your vehicle frequently. This is the best way to get allergens out of the air! Get all the soft surfaces and air vents really good, and then just go over everything else thoroughly while you’re at it.

Wipe down all the hard surfaces in your vehicle with a damp microfiber cloth or automotive dusting wipes to get any accumulated dust and pollen outta there.

A good idea is to keep a bottle of allergen-reducing spray in the car. Not only will it keep any particles from floating around as much, but it’ll also make your vehicle smell nice and fresh!

Finally, you should take a look at your cabin air filter. Your owner’s manual will have instructions on how to access this, and at any rate we can do it for you! This is important for filtering out dust and pollen that come into your vehicle, and if it hasn’t been changed in a while then it’s probably not doing its best work.

Of course, some allergens will always slip through the cracks so keep some tissues handy and some Benadryl in the glove box! Good luck!

If you, like me, have a big family and a lot of sports equipment to tote around, the arrival of spring and inevitable coming of summer mean that whatever gear you’ve been toting around is about to multiply and start to smell. Really, really smell. But there’s a definite art in separating out the smell of whatever’s supposed to be in your vehicle and what might be indicating that you have a problem under the hood. How do you know? Well, first you have to know what the different smells mean. Check it out!

You Smell: Rotten eggs
What It Is: Your catalytic converter is having some issues and is putting hydrogen sulfide into your exhaust. It could either be a fuel injection problem, or your cat is failing. This is, unfortunately, a pretty expensive repair. But if you smell the rotten eggs when your car is not running, you should probably check for something inside the car.

You Smell: Sulfur
What It Is: When you smell sulfur in your car all the time, you can assume that it’s gear lubricant leaking from the manual transmission, transfer case, or differential housing. There are sulfur compounds in the oil that serve as extreme-pressure lubricants for the gears in these parts, and after being in use for a few years this substance can get kind of gross. Look for puddles of oily, viscous stuff under your car. If you see this, you should take your vehicle to our service department.

You Smell: Maple syrup
What It Is: Coolant has ethylene glycol in it, which smells sweet but is definitely toxic. If you’re smelling it, that means there’s a leak somewhere in your system. You should take your vehicle in to get looked at, though this is a pretty easy fix.

You Smell: A gas station
What It Is: Unless you’re at a gas station, you shouldn’t smell this. It’s straight up gasoline, which should be inside your car and not outside of it. If your car is older (i.e. before 1980) then you might smell this when you turn your car off, but if your car is newer than that, the smell of gas means that you’ve got an issue. This could be a leak from a fuel injection line or a fuel tank vent hose in your engine.

You Smell: Hot oil
What It Is: The easiest to diagnose, this is hot oil. But the oil is getting hot because it’s leaking onto the exhaust manifold, which is hot when your engine is running. It’s not a pleasant smell by any stretch of the imagination, so take a look around your engine and keep an eye out for smoke. If you can find the leak, try to stem it, then bring your car into our shop, and fast.

Folks, it’s that time of the month again – specials on your favorite new Nissan models are here! We have exclusive offers on new 2017 and 2018 Nissan models. Save today before they’re gone!

First, we have the 2018 Nissan Maxima S*. This is a fantastic sedan that’s perfect for the whole family… or for the professional on the go! Wherever you’re headed, you know you’ll enjoy getting there behind the wheel of the Maxima S. With a lease point of $197 a month, you won’t want to miss out on this snazzy new 2018 Maxima!

Next up is the 2018 Nissan Sentra S*, another fantastic sedan that will get you where you’re going in style. Whether you’re cruising through the city, enjoying that fantastic Pennsylvania skyline or just stopping at the corner deli for lunch, this car will turn heads no matter where you’re going. And it’s easier than ever to be the center of attention – with a lease price point of $107 a month for 36 months! Don’t wait, this 2018 Nissan Sentra won’t last long.

If you’re more of the SUV type, you’ll want to check out the new 2018 Nissan Rogue S AWD*. You can lease the 2018 Rogue S AWD for as low as $157 a month for 36 months! The new 2018 Rogue S AWD offers enough room for your passengers and cargo, leaving no one squished in the back.

If any of these great new vehicles appeal to you, head down to Loughead Nissan today and take a test drive! Hurry in, these specials won’t last long!

*All specials expire on 3/31/2018. See specials page for details.

Some of us are what we’d call “handy,” which means that we are good at fixing things and not having to seek out the help of professionals. However, when it comes to cars, no matter how handy you are there are still some repairs that you should always leave to the pros. Sure, it’s an expense, but I for one would rather pay and know that the job is being done right than leave it up to chance and risk a seized engine.

First of all, don’t touch the transmission. Don’t even change the fluid. If you mess up the transmission you’re in for a much more expensive repair than you had on your hands before you decided to try and repair it.

Windshields are another thing that you just need to bring to glass professionals. Even those store bought kits that say they fix cracks are lying to you. Just get a pro in there and you’ll be set.

Anything to do with wiring has been off-limits for me for a while, but I need to remind us all that trying to tinker with anything in the car that has a lot of delicate electronics is a bad idea. So no putting in a new sound system on your own! Do you know how bad electrical fires are? Stay away!

Don’t think about touching the fuel pump, either. This is not only a very precise part, but it requires precise installation and even the smallest mixup can total your engine from the inside out.

The final thing on my list is engine diagnostics. This should be a no-brainer. The little code reader you can get that turns off the check engine light doesn’t actually fix anything, so why waste money that you could spend on getting what’s making the light come on repaired?

Spring is springing and that means it’s time to get your car in shape again after the winter we’ve just had. It’s easy – check out this great guide to spring car maintenance that you can do yourself!

Start with your tires, even if you drive on “all season” tires. Heavy, consistent snow and ice require snow tires, which absolutely should be replaced with the non-snow variety. If you drive on all season radials, this is the time to rotate them. By rotating tires seasonally, you extend the life of the set.

Windshield wiper blades also take a beating during winter weather. Cold temperatures are hard on rubber compounds, and they are assailed with slush kicked up by traffic. This slush often carries with it corrosive salt used to melt road ice, which can do a number on your blades. Early spring is a good time to check and replace them if necessary. Check your windshield fluid as well since there’s a good chance winter’s dirt has exhausted the reservoir.

Next, clean your vehicle’s underbody. There’s no magic solution to getting rid of the corrosive salt build-up but the best tool is a high-pressure sprayer. Pay special attention to the area around the front and rear bumpers. Once you’ve thoroughly sprayed the underbody, check for signs of rust and take the necessary steps to stop any small rust spots from eating away at your vehicle. We’ve all seen those pillars of snow that form around bumpers and wheel wells. That’s the most likely place for road salt to begin the erosion process. While you’re at it, you might as well wash the whole car. Winter is not conducive to leisurely afternoons spent hosing off your vehicle and chances are it’s been a while.

Examine your brakes. Like wipers, brakes take on a bigger role during wintertime and should be checked to ensure that they’ve survived. Listen for brake noises such as grinding, chatter, or squeals. Even if your brakes aren’t making any distinctive noises, it’s still a good idea for you or your mechanic to determine the amount of wear on the pads or drums. We often become accustomed to the feel of worn brakes, without realizing that what we’re used to is a deteriorated ability to stop.

Check all automotive fluids and top off as necessary. Winter driving conditions require your engine to work harder and condensation can cause moisture buildup in the engine that creates wear. If your car is due for scheduled maintenance, have the oil changes and be sure to use the proper formulation and viscosity recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Many automakers now require special, fuel-conserving low-viscosity semi- or full-synthetic engine oils for year-round use.

Go over the interior of your vehicle. This includes taking out and washing floor liners. Vacuum and clean the carpets, and make sure they are dry before you put the liners back in.

Source: https://exchange.aaa.com/car-care/repair-maintenance/seasonal-car-maintenance/#.WpXIAZPwZTY

Do you have blind spots in your vehicle? It’s common – and easy to remedy!

One way to get rid of those blind spots is to stick convex mirrors on to your wing mirrors in the outer corners. You can find these small mirrors at your local auto parts store. Make sure your mirrors are clean first! Note: you should not do this to a leased vehicle.

If you’re hesitant about using an adhesive solution, you can also adjust your mirrors in a way that eliminates holes in your vision. Here’s how:

Adjust your rearview mirror to give you a view directly to the rear. Make it so that it best covers your rear window view. Don’t tilt it to get side views – just straight back through your window.

Lean your head until it almost touches your driver’s side window. Adjust your left side mirror so you can just barely see the side of your car – no more.

Lean your head to the passenger side as far as you can comfortably while still sitting up and adjust the right mirror so you can barely see the right side of your car.

You shouldn’t be able to see the side of your car when your head is all the way upright!

This is an easy way to make sure you’ve got the full range of vision that you need to stay safe in your vehicle.

The final way is to find an aftermarket clip-on rearview mirror that has convex edges and a larger field of view that will allow you to be able to see more of what’s behind you. Ask us for recommendations!

How often do you check your oil? Let me guess – you don’t, really, unless someone specifically asks you to. Well, let me ask you to do it at least once a month. Take your phone out right now and set a recurring monthly calendar event to check your oil. How about Saturday morning? That’s a great time to check out your car, and maybe even clean it out a little while you’re at it.

If you don’t know how to check your oil, it’s really simple, and everyone can do it. Here’s how to get that done – did you make a calendar event?

• Open the hood. Prop it so it stays open.

• Locate the oil dipstick next to the engine. It should have a yellow handle and/or be labeled.

• Pull out the dipstick and wipe it on a clean cloth or paper towel.

• Dip the stick all the way back in.

• Pull it out again and look at the oil level. If it’s in the middle of the hatched/indicated area, you’re good. More is better, less is okay, but if you’re lower than the area you need to get your oil topped up and have your system checked for leaks.

• Look at the oil quality and color. If there are a lot of particles or if the oil looks sludgy, you need to get it changed as soon as possible.

• Put the dipstick back in.

• Close your hood.

Do you like to travel? Do you have a dog? Check out our tips for traveling with your dog!

The first order of business is to never travel with a sick dog. If your dog is ill, take them to the vet and then hire a dogsitter or find a place to board your pup if you’re going away for a longer amount of time.

Next, when you’re on the road you should make sure that your dog has plenty of water to drink. It should be filtered/distilled or tap water from your home, because dogs have very sensitive GI tracts and don’t do well with a sudden change of water.

If you travel with your dog in a crate, make sure that crate is large enough for your dog to stand up, sit down, turn around, and lie down inside of. Put down some soft towels or blankets on the floor of the crate for comfort and maybe toss in a favorite toy or two.

Should your dog not be the crate type, get a harness tie-down for your dog so that they don’t wander around the inside of the car when you’re driving and hurt themselves. Don’t let your dog ride on your lap – they can impede your driving and even cause an accident.

Letting your dog stick their head out the window is also not a great idea. Debris like dust, small rocks, bugs, and other unsavory elements can get into your dog’s eyes and ears and cause injury.

Above all, stop frequently for potty and exercise breaks! Not only does your dog need to get out and stretch its legs, but you could probably do with a bit of exercise yourself!