Category Archives: Articles & Resources for Senior Citizens

Summer Road Trip – Hudson Valley Region and Beyond

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checklistVehicle Check List, just prior to trip

  • Check all fluid levels
  • Check tire pressure, including spare
  • Check exterior lights, including signals and hazard lights
  • Check wipers and wiper operation
  • Check windshield washer operation
  • Top off washer fluid
  • Fill fuel tank
  • Clean car, inside and exterior
  • Trip information
  • School information

 What to carry in your car

  • Cell phone and charger
  • Road side assistance card
  • Bottle of washer solvent
  • Flashlight
  • Blanket
  • Drinking water and snacks
  • Road flares
  • Small shovel
  • Kitty litter (used for traction of snow, mud, ice)
  • Jumper cables or battery pack (used to jump start dead battery)
  • Gloves, shop rags
  • Flat tire sealant
  • First aid kit
  • Tire gauge
  • Small fire extinguisher
  • Disposable camera (or cell phone with camera)
  • Pen or pencil and paper
  • Ice scraper

Before you head out on your road trip be sure that you are prepared.

A New Year’s Resolution….

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calendar

For Your Vehicle helps you understand how becoming more organized will help keep your car in top running condition.  Look how things like keeping good car repair records and keeping on top of car service reminders can help keep your car running longer.

 

  1. Review your maintenance records to see if your car is up to date and not overdue with scheduled maintenance.  You depend on your car, take care of it and it will take care of you.
  2. Record Keeping-keep a copy of every completed work order, from oil changes and brake service to major repairs.  In addition to helping document any warranty work, a complete service record is very appealing to potential buyers.
  3. Tactical Care.  Don’t ignore service-engine lights, poor engine performance, rough handling, fading brakes or other issues that present themselves.  Neglect can cost more in the long run by making minor issues worse.  For example, brake pads are cheaper and easier to replace than are brake rotors.

These small tips and more can be found on our website at osceolagarage.com

 

Snow Fall in Hudson Valley Region

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Take Time To Clear All The Snow from Your Car

clean your vehicle of snow and ice If you are like me, the last thing you want to do after a storm is to clear snow from your car.  Unless your car is garage-kept at all times, this is just a fact of life during the winter season.  It’s really important for your safety and the safety of others to make sure you car is clean before heading out.   And clean means the entire car;  all the windows, the windshield, the roof and all the lights. A snow broom works really well for heavy amounts of snow. Keep a snow brush and ice scraper in the trunk along with extra windshield washer fluid. Also make sure that your wipers are clean too and not frozen to the windshield.  If the roads are snow or icy, slow down and maintain your distance from the cars in front of you.

Automotive News – Vehicle Operation

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Make Sure Your Defroster and Heating System is Working Properly

defrosting carWinter brings snow, ice and cold temperatures. Your car’s heating system is vital to your safety. It not only keeps you warm but keeps the windshield and rear window clear of ice, and from fogging up. Check all the functions of the heater and defroster.

Make sure the heater fan motor is working on all speeds and make sure that the heater changes from the defrost mode, heater mode (floor vent) and regular vent.  Move the temperature selector from cold to hot to insure that the heater system is responding correctly. Also, make sure that the rear defroster is working properly.  If any of these functions are not operating properly, see your service professional today.

Putnam and Westchester County Thanksgiving Holiday Check List

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Avoid “Turkey” of a Weekend with Pre-Trip Vehicle Check

Putnam County Fall RoadOne way to avoid a turkey of a Thanksgiving road trip is to make sure the vehicle you will be driving is running well. A 10-minute pre-trip check is small potatoes compared to a big helping of inconvenience if you break down many miles away from home.

“A pre-trip vehicle check provides peace of mind, helping reduce the chance of costly car trouble and providing an opportunity to have any repairs performed by one’s own trusted technician before hitting the road,” “While no inspection can guarantee a car’s performance, it’s comforting to know proper precautions were taken to ensure a stress-free Thanksgiving road trip.”

Osceola Garage and The Car Care Council suggests the following 10-minute vehicle check to help ensure safety and reliability on the road:
•Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
•Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
•Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.
•Check lighting to identify any problems with exterior and interior lighting as the chance of an accident increases if you can’t see or be seen.
•Check wipers. Wiper blades should be replaced every six months. Make sure the windshield wipers are working properly and keep the reservoir filled with solvent.

We also recommend that motorists restock their emergency kit. To save on fuel costs during the trip, the council suggests that motorists avoid aggressive driving, observe the speed limit and avoid excessive idling. Gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing should be replaced to prevent gas from spilling or evaporating.

article source by “The Car Care Council” your source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council’s Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org or osceolagarage.com