Fall is fast approaching and with it comes cooler weather. I don’t know about you, but with this change of season, I’m getting ready to turn over a new LEAF. Or at the very least check out the AMAZING new 2018 Nissan LEAF coming soon to Loughead Nissan! I have been waiting OHHH so patiently for any news of this awesome vehicle so now that we’ve gotten our first look at the LEAF on September 5th, I have SO MANY details about this sweet ride. Go ahead! Grab a hot apple cider, snuggle into a warm fleece blanket, and hunker down. There is a lot of info to share and I get the sneaking suspicion that you’ll want to read ALL of it!

First and foremost, the 2018 Nissan LEAF is 100% electric and has ZERO Emissions. Yah, you read that correctly! Talk about cool, and helping out mother nature by doing its part to protect the planet! It has 240V Fast Charging, for home and in public that, with 1 hour of charging provides a range of up to 22 miles! There is also and available 50KW public option, the fastest charging option, that with 30 minutes you get a range of up to 88 miles! When fully charged you have a range of 150 miles! You can also keep track of your vehicle’s charge on your smartphone through NissanConnect® EV App!

Speaking of incredible technology! The LEAF is loaded with gizmos and gadgets that make your life infinitely easier. For example, one such helpful feature is the ProPILOT™ Assist. This feature helps you take care of the little things, like following the car ahead at a preset distance or helping keep you centered in your lane. It can even bring your LEAF to a full stop based on the traffic flow and hold you there.

This is only a taste of what you’ll find in the all new 2018 Nissan LEAF! This vehicle will be released in early 2018, so there is a bit more waiting to do, but soon friends. SOON YOU CAN TEST DRIVE THIS MAGIC at Loughead Nissan! Stop by today to see the 2017 Nissan LEAF while you wait!

You’ve heard of the Nissan LEAF before, right? Great! And of course you thought it was awesome, I mean, an electric car? A completely electric car? I mean, it doesn’t even have an MPG estimate because there are no gallons to have miles per! Seriously, like, the Leaf is pretty sweet. In pretty much every way. I love it a lot. Can you tell? WELL, have I got some news for you! The 2018 Leaf is premiering on the 5th of this month… so like. That’s soon. That is so soon. That means that we will have the all-new 2018 Leaf before we know it. I am SO EXCITED.

Listen, there’s so much to love about the new Leaf. I don’t even have all the facts about the vehicle yet but like, I still know that there’s SO MUCH. The new Nissan Leaf comes with the all-new e-Pedal technology. This means that your accelerator pedal can do basically everything for you (if you flip the switch to have it do so) from speeding up, slowing down, and braking. Seriously. One pedal. It’s amazing!! Of course, you should use the regular old brake pedal for aggressive braking situations, but if you’re on a leisurely drive, that e-Pedal has you covered.

Lots of websites are sharing rumors about the new Leaf, but I don’t want to get too excited. I think we can really expect a lot of similar things from the 2017 Leaf, but the 2018 has definitely been redesigned to look better than ever. We should expect shorter charging times and a longer range than before, but I really don’t know anything for sure. What if it comes with the ability to drive itself on the highway? That would be SUPER awesome, but also it would mean that the future has arrived and I don’t know if I’m ready for that kind of commitment.

Regardless, I am super jazzed for the release of the new Leaf. September 5th, folks!! Then we’ll get all the details we could ever want. I am checking every day, just in case they surprise us. That would be great.

Having your brakes fail while you’re driving is a really scary thing. And if this hasn’t happened to you before, you’ll probably panic if it does. That’s why we’re here to help you learn what to do in this scenario and be prepared for whatever comes – this time, specifically, your brakes failing. Remember that no matter what you should stay calm and take deep breaths so that you can think clearly and not panic. It’s easy to fall into panic and anxiety when things like this happen, but just breathe.

If you notice that your brakes are failing while you are driving, take a deep breath and try them again. Don’t stomp on the pedal, just test it out. It’s very likely that your car has a dual braking system that controls both the front and rear independently, so you could have an Option B at your disposal. You might still be able to stop, even if you don’t have as much stopping power as before, so apply strong and consistent pressure to the brakes to see if you can slow your car down at all.

If this doesn’t work, try using the emergency brake by applying it very slowly. It’ll take longer to do this, but it might work. Otherwise, just take your foot off the gas. If you’re driving stick, downshift the car until it’s slowed down. Automatic transmission cars just require you taking your foot off the gas.

As you slow down, get out of the way of traffic. Work your way to the side of the road, but don’t put on your hazards yet. If you are not in the far right lane, you’ll need your turn signals to let other vehicles know where you’re going. Even though you are having an emergency, you still need to keep in mind other drivers and obey the rules of the road.

Once you’re fully stopped on the side of the road, turn your hazards on, set out any other emergency signaling items (like reflective triangles or flares, especially at night) and call for help. You should have your vehicle taken to a shop or to your dealer for them to inspect and fix your brakes. It is SUPER dangerous to drive without properly working brakes. Even if it seems like your brakes are working okay again without having them checked, your car is still probably not safe to drive until a professional evaluates what’s going on with your brakes.

Ever get caught on the road with a flat tire and not know what to do about it? I think we’ve all been there. But hey, that’s why I’m here – your friendly Blog Mechanic! I am here to tell you all about how to change a flat tire on the fly. If you have the supplies, which you should, this is easy as pie and you should be on the road in a jiffy.

So, the things you’ll need are your owner’s manual, your spare tire, a tire wrench (shaped like a big X), and a jack. These things should have come with your vehicle, so check inside your vehicle to make sure you’ve got ‘em. You should also supplement the standard supplies with wheel wedges, a flashlight, and gloves (if you want – these make things a little easier).

First, pull over to the side of the road slowly. You won’t hurt your car by driving it carefully to the side. Make sure the ground is level and you’re safely away from passing traffic. Turn your hazard lights on and apply the parking brake. If you have wheel wedges, put them behind your tires – if the flat is on the back, put the wedges in front of the front tires. If the flat’s on the front, put them behind your rear wheels.

Then you should remove the hubcap or wheel cover on your tire. This will let you get to the lug nuts that hold your tire onto your vehicle. Protip: use the flat end of your lug wrench to take the hubcap off. If it doesn’t work, check your owner’s manual. Once the cap or cover is off, loosen the lug nuts – don’t take them off all the way! Just loosen them a little.

Next, put the jack under the vehicle and jack it up just enough that that flat tire is six inches above the ground. You need to check your owner’s manual to find out where you are supposed to be placing the jack. If you place it improperly, you can cause damage to your car. Then you can take the lug nuts off all the way and take off the tire.

Put the spare tire on the lug bolts and tighten the lug nuts by hand before lowering the vehicle back down to the ground – don’t lower it all the way, just lower it enough that the tire is touching the ground but the full weight of the car is not on the tire. Then you can tighten the lug nuts all the way and lower the vehicle down fully. Replace the hubcap, put all of your equipment away, and then go to a shop or dealership as soon as you can – spare tires aren’t meant to be driven on at high speeds or for long distances!

I hope this helps – changing a flat tire isn’t as hard as it seems, and anyone can do it. Just make sure you always have what you need in your car so that you can take care of it if you need to. Thanks!

You might think that all your car needs to run smoothly is oil in the engine, gas in the tank, and you behind the wheel. But you might not know that there are a multitude of different types of fluids that live in your engine and keep everything running. Here’s a list of the fluids you should know about and be paying attention to, and how to make sure that everything is copacetic on your own.

1. Oil. You know about this one! You might not know that you should be checking your oil regularly, though. To do this, just pull out the oil dipstick, make sure the oil is at the “Full” line and not below the “Add” line, make sure the oil isn’t dirty, and stick it back in. You should also be making sure that you’re taking your vehicle in for regular oil changes. A general rule is every 3,000 miles, but your manufacturer and dealer might have different recommendations, especially based on the age and mileage of your vehicle and the type of engine that’s under the hood.

2. Transmission fluid. This is the other dipstick in your engine. You’ll want to check this pretty much the same way that you check your oil, but if it’s the same color as your oil then you’ve got a problem. The fluid should be clear to pinkish without any bits in it. If the level is low or if the fluid is dirty, you should probably make an appointment to get your transmission fluid changed.

3. Brake fluid. This is what gives your car stopping power, which can be especially important if you’re driving in traffic often or if you tend to make a lot of quick stops. If you want to check this, you usually don’t have to open up the reservoir – it’s usually clear enough that you can see the level and color of the fluid through the plastic. If you do want to open the reservoir, clean off the outside and cap before you do; it can be dangerous for you if any particles or dirt get into the fluid. If the fluid itself is dark in color, you should take it in to get it changed – don’t try to do this yourself!

4. Power Steering Fluid. With this, your ability to control the movement of your vehicle’s wheels is increased exponentially. Like with the brake fluid, you can usually see the level and color of the fluid through the reservoir, which is usually located around the passenger side of the vehicle under the hood. If the level is low, you can top it up yourself. Just make sure you don’t get dirt into the reservoir.

We hope these tips help you know more about what’s under your hood – and remember, you can always come into Loughead Nissan and ask us any questions you might have. We’re also happy to check and change any of the above-mentioned fluids for you!

Face it, your car is the one thing that will never be fully cleaned 100% of the time. We can wish that, but reality strikes folks.

Whether your little monsters are the reason that your car is never cleaned, or your dog, or even yourself, the key to keeping everything together is organization. My car used to look like a tornado ran through it daily, no joke. I couldn’t find my back seats most days. Even when I was late, I would have to scurry to get my back seats and sometimes even my seat clean. Seemed like no matter what I did to keep it together, something would ruin it.

I found little hacks to make my car better as well as my life.

First, use a car organizer and tie it to the back of the passenger seat. This could even be a shoe organizer that you have made into a car organizer. Things you could add in the organizer include sippy cups; extra spoons; napkins; tissues; gum; toys; shoes and clothes; extra snacks; and juice boxes. These will come in handy for road trips, long car rides, or just your average day.

Bet you never thought of this! Shower caddys! Stick those bad boys to your back seat windows (especially for kids) use this to add their favorite snack or even an arts and crafts project to keep them occupied. These can stick directly on your window so you won’t be seeing messes on the floor!

A trash can is a must! Think about all the times that you have forgotten to take out that burger wrapper or those candy wrappers and they pile up. Yuck! Or those used tissues during flu season that are stuffed between seats, yuck! Even using a plastic bag attached either behind a seat or just put in the back. This will make you want to throw your scraps out!

Pack survival kits! First aid, snacks, activity, games, etc. Store these goodies in the truck or even in your backseat or behind the passenger’s seat! This will make all your trips better! You never know what might happen so being extra prepared is never a bad idea!

Keep your loose change in your old gum container! You never know when you might have to take an alternate route and need change! You might also need change for parking, maybe food, anything really! This will always be handy no matter the road trip.

Leave the frowns at home and read all about the hacks that could make your life easier on the road!

“51 Insanely Awesome Car Organization Hacks, Tips & Tricks.” HappyChappy. N.p., 30 Apr. 2017. Web. 27 July 2017.

When you first get your license, you think the road is this wide space with no directions besides the signs that hang on the side of the road to tell you the speed limit.

Thing is, there are many signs that we get from other drivers, or more so their vehicles. Indicators that tell us whether we should be going slower, going faster, if we should stop or even if we should give them space.

Take the turn signals, for example, they are indicators that the person in front of you is turning. That means that you should give them some space and stay back until they turn. Some people take this indicator as a sign for them to speed up and cut them off so you don’t have to wait for them to turn. That is dangerous and a good way to get pulled over.

Other indicators include the hazard lights. These indicators let people know whether you are having an emergency, you’re pulling over, or to simply tell them that you are going slower than the speed limit. People use these in snow or rain storms when they can’t see all too well out of their windshield.

Brake lights! That is a popular one. The brake light is something I hope you all know what that does. The job of the brake light is to stop. If the driver in front of you steps on the brake, the light goes on to let you know they are slowing down and you should probably too.

Flashing headlights is also an indicator. This is used when the other drivers are trying to grab your attention. Whether to let you know that there is construction ahead or even traffic, that is what they mean. A heads up to the other drivers.

There are far more indicators that drivers use when driving, no the road rage ones don’t count. I know you were thinking of those signs.

These indicators are mostly as a respect for other drivers as well as preventing anyone running their vehicle into you. Avoiding accidents one indicator at a time.

Jenkins, Richard. “Signalling – Making and Responding to Car Signals.” Signaling – Using Car Indicators and Other Signals. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2017.

You know the mornings that never seem to end? The ones where it starts off wrong with not finding a sock, then your shirts are all dirty, and then your car won’t start.

Who actually keeps track of the last time they changed their car battery? Not many people. There is that heat that rises up as you slowly turn that key, you can feel your blood start to boil, and that mean look that you just can’t seem to get off your face. Now, we’ve all done this. We’ve sat there turning the key, holding it tighter and pushing it in harder. Nope, not the way to go as that will break your key and your car quicker.

Yup, that means your battery might be dead. Batteries usually take months, sometimes years to die depending on the vehicle itself. When you bring your battery and car to your service department, they can change it for you there. There are more ways than just turning your key and have it not work. Here they are:

• The car battery does not only power the engine, but also needs enough power to run the electronic components in the car ie. power windows, power seats, radio, etc.

• Light on dashboard- The battery shape light on your dashboard will be going off when you get to that point that your battery needs more attention. Once the light does come on, it would be in your best interest to have that checked out by a professional.

• Your battery case looks a bit swollen: This is caused by a chemical reaction within the box. This comes from really hot or really cold weather conditions.

• Old battery: A battery works about four to five years until it needs or should be replaced. Once the battery is old, the battery does not have much life left.

• Certain smell: Overcharged or froze, the car battery produces a smell of rotten eggs. Yuck!

It is essential to have your battery looked at by your service department. The lifeline of a car battery is usually four to five years, so once the four years start to hit, you should be getting that checked out! Ask your service advisor for the technician to tell you how much they think you have left with your current battery.

A dead battery can happen to anyone at any given time, so it is better to be proactive and stay on top of how long you’ve had a new battery. Your service department will help with this!

Your morning might start out rough sometimes, that’s a given, but make sure you are checking your battery every once in awhile to make sure that your morning doesn’t randomly get worse!

“Pep Boys.” Six Signs of a Failing Car Battery | Pep Boys. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 July 2017.