Do You Have a New Driver?

It seems that as summer approaches, there are more young drivers on the road each year.  Receiving your driver's license is a huge milestone in many teens lives.  It means mobility and freedom.

Unfortunately, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens.(CDC)  However, there are some steps you and your teen can take to prevent car crashes and keep you and your loved ones safe.

• Know Your Car: Make sure your teen is familiar with your car.  They should be familiar with the different features your car comes with and should always keep the gas tank at least 1/3 full.
• Seat Belts: I can't stress this one enough!  No matter how you look at it, seat belts save lives.  A driver or passenger will always be safer when wearing a seat belt.  Encourage and set the example for your teen to always wear a seat belt.
• Slow Down: Speed limits are there for a reason: to keep you safe!  Speeding is one of the main causes of fatalities in teen accidents.  
• Be Aware of Your Surroundings: This can be anything from kids playing near the road, to a sunset that makes it hard to see.  You can't always assume a child will stay out of the road, or that another driver will see you even though you are blinded by the sun.  Take precautions, and drive carefully.
• Distracted Driving: There are so many distractions as a person drives down the road.  You have your cell phone, your friends in the car, a catchy billboard, etc.  Always stay focused on the road and be aware of what's going on.

Having an extra driver in the house can definitely be a positive thing.  So take the proper precautions and enjoy watching your teen become more independent!

Is Your Car Ready for Your Vacation?

As summer approaches, many of you are planning or have already planned a family vacation.  You're ready for a break from school and work, and just want to spend some quality time with you family away from home.  According to a survey done by AAA, 35% of Americans will be taking a family vacation this year.  With the drop in gas prices this past year, many of those trips will be road trips.  Maybe you will drive up to your favorite camping spot.  Perhaps you'll have a family reunion at a national park.  Or maybe you'll take a long-awaited trip to a theme park.  Wherever you go, you will try and plan for any possible mishap so you can spend your time enjoying each other, instead of worrying about troubles.

One item of your trip planning to keep in mind is your transportation.  If you are taking a road trip, you will want to make sure that your vehicle is well-maintained and up for the trip.  Some of the preparation you can do in your own driveway.  Some things to check for are:

• Check all fluids and filters (engine oil, coolant, windshield washer solvent, etc.)
• Check hoses and belts (for cracking, wear, misshapen, etc.)
• Check tires (pressure, balding, uneven wear)
• Check wipers and lighting
• Check brake system
• Check batter connection (be sure that there isn't any corrosion)
• Check gas cap and be sure it is not damaged 

You can also bring your car in for a Pre-Trip Tune-up.  “A pre-trip inspection provides the opportunity to have service repairs made at home by your own trusted technician who knows the vehicle, and helps reduce the chance of costly and dangerous trouble on the road,” said Rich While. (Be Car Care Aware)  You can also ensure that your car is running at it's most efficient capacity, to ensure better fuel economy and safety.

We all want to have a safe vacation, and usually all it takes is some planning ahead of time.  We hope you have a safe and fun summer!

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

As the temperature increases and the days become nicer all around, you start seeing more motorcycles on the road.  You'll see every type of motorcyclist out there.  You'll see the scooters, the commuters, the leisurely driver, the guy in leather, the guy with a helmet, and sadly the guy without a helmet.  Unfortunately, you won't always see a motorcyclist and so it's important to take precautions, especially if you are the motorcyclist.

The first step you can take as a motorcyclist is wear the proper gear.  Wear a helmet!  I can't stress this enough!  According to consumer reports, "riders without a helmet are 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury in a crash and are three times more likely to suffer brain injuries, than those with helmets."  Helmets have come a long way, and are lighter and more comfortable than they once were.  Also, wear protective clothing.

Another step you can take to protect yourself is to take a riding course with a nearby Motorcycle Safety Foundation.  The old adage is "Practice makes Perfect."  Why wouldn't you want to improve on your riding skill to be safe on the road.  There are multiple places you can take a course on riding a motorcycle.  These courses can also assist you in passing the motorcycle licensing test and help you become a more confidant and safe rider.

Watch for road hazards and bad weather.  A motorcycle is so much smaller than a car, that it reacts differently to some road hazards and bad weather.  A car can easily straddle pot holes in the road, but a motorcycle could be damaged and the rider hurt in the process if hit.  Also, be aware of the wind and rain.  Make allowances for unforeseeable mishaps.

As a driver in a car, there are also steps you can take to protect the motorcyclist driving near you.  First, be aware that he/she is there.  Always take time to look in your mirrors, and see those around you.  You are protected by the car, but the motorcyclist, not so much.  Be sure to check your blind spot when you change lanes, and leave enough stopping room when you travel behind.

We are all driving out there together, and it's important that we look out for one another.  If the roles were reversed, we'd want someone else watching our back.

Click It or Ticket

Every year in May, a couple of weeks are set aside to really focus on the wearing of seat belts.  This year the National enforcement period will be May 23-June 5.  Not only will police officers be enforcing the seat belt laws, but the law in Utah will actually change.  This year, as of May 12, a person can now be pulled over, just for not wearing a seat belt.  Previously, not wearing a seat belt could only be a secondary offense. (Utah Department of Public Safety)

You've been hearing it for years.  Wear a seat belt.  Buckle up your kids.  Make sure your kids are in the correct car seat/booster seat.

According to Click It Utah, "the seat belt has been credited with saving one million lives."  Even if your car has air bags, it's still important to wear a seat belt.  A seat belt will help keep you in the correct place to brace you for a crash.

According to Zero Fatalities the following statistics should motivate you to wear your seat belt if you are not in the habit of doing so:

• Seat belts are the single most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury.
• Wearing a seat belt also helps the driver stay in the driver seat and helps maintain control of the vehicle.
• 3 out of 4 people who are ejected during a fatal crash die from their injuries.
• Over the last 5 years, almost half of all people (45%) who died on Utah's roads weren't buckled.
• When the driver is unbuckled, 76% of children also ride unbuckled. When the driver is belted, 87% of children also ride with a seat belt. Be an example and buckle up.
• In a crash, unbuckled passengers can become a projective and increase the risk of hurting or killing others in the car by 40%.

Based on a survey prepared by the Utah Department of Public Safety, Utah's seat belt use rate in 2015 was 87.2%, which was 3.8% increase as compared to 2014. To read the complete survey please read more here. So the good news is on a whole, we are improving!  More people are wearing seat belts.  More people are buckling their kids up. Even when you are taking short trips, you still need to buckle up yourself, and your kids in the proper car seat.  It can save your life and the lives of your family members!

April is National Car Care Month

Be Car Care Aware sponsors a National Car Care Month every April.  Many of you are already completing some spring cleaning in your own home, why not let that extend to your car(s)?

"Neglected vehicle care almost always means much higher costs down the line in the form of more extensive repairs or lost resale value.  These results show that the majority of vehicle owners could save money by being proactive in the maintenance of their second largest investment," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Counsel.

You depend on your car every day to get you to work, school, kids' activities, errands, and so much more.  In order for that car to not let you down, you need to also make sure that it's being taken care of.  This could start with something as simple as taking your car to the car wash to wash all the dirt, salt, and grime off from winter.  Your car may look like a brand new car after that car wash.  You should also be checking for other possible repairs and maintenance that the cold of the winter months may have taken a toll on, such as: oil change, timing belt, drive belt, alignment, regular maintenance service, or any other concerns you may have.  Bring your car over to Jake's Auto, and we will gladly look it over.

Read More at National Car Care Aware Month.

Alignments -- What? Why? When?

At one time or another, we've all had a car that has needed an alignment.  We may have hit a pot hole, endured a cold winter with lots of freezing temperatures, or even just had some repair work done on a vehicle.

As such, you might be wondering what exactly an alignment is or does. An alignment adjusts the angles of the tires on your vehicle to ensure the most efficient and safe drivability. There are three components to an alignment: the camber, caster, and toe.

The camber is the angle of the wheels in proportion to the road.  If a tire is perfectly perpendicular the camber would be 0 degrees.  If a tire leans in toward the vehicle, it would be negative camber, and if a tire leans out away from the vehicle, it would be positive camber.  Each make and model of vehicle has it's own specifications set up by the manufacturer as to the degree of camber.

Caster is the angle of the tire as attached to the vehicle.  You will have a zero degree caster if the point of contact is perpendicular to the road.  The caster will be positive if the angle of the point of contact is angled forward, and negative if the point of contact is angled backward.

Finally, toe is the angle the tires are turned in towards the car and towards each other.  You can see the toe when you look down at the tires from above.  Positive toe is when the tires are angled in toward each other, and negative toe is when the tires are angled away from each other.

Having your tires properly aligned extends the life of your tires, steering, and suspension systems.  A vehicle that is not properly aligned, will wear tires.

What are some signs that your car might need an alignment?  Some signs that you car may need an alignment are:

• Pulling in one direction
• Excessive bouncing
• Visible damage to a tire(s) or uneven tire wear
• Loss of control when driving
• Off-center steering wheel
• Low tire pressure

Last December, we were able to add an alignment machine to our shop.  This way we can better serve you, our customers.  There are some repairs that require an alignment to be completed once the repair has been completed.  With our new alignment rack, now you will only have to make one stop before your car is back up and running smoothly.

Timing Belts and Chains

A timing belt or chain does exactly what it sounds like it would; it keeps things in time in the engine.  It coordinates the pistons coming up and the valves going down.  The valves need to close before the pistons come up, to prevent major engine damage.  Over time with the heat and the cold and just regular wear and tear, the timing belt will become cracked, stressed, or even break.  A timing chain will become loose and could also possibly break.  It's important to replace the timing belt before it breaks, because of the damage that could incur with a broken belt.  Plus, the cost of the repair will increase substantially without proper replacement.

It's not easy to tell if a timing belt needs to be replaced just by looking at it.  It's hard to get to the timing belt because it's behind the serpentine belt and a protective cover.  Also, when a timing belt is replaced, the water pump, tensioner, and pulleys should also be replaced.

Generally timing belts should be replaced between 60,000 and 90,000 miles.  If you do not have record of when the timing belt was last replaced, we strongly encourage you to have the timing belt checked and possibly replaced.  You'd rather have a timing belt in good condition, rather than be stranded and stuck with costly repairs.

The great news is Jake's Auto is very proficient at replacing timing belts.  We want to be sure that your car is maintained and safe for you to drive.  Please feel free to call us if you have any questions regarding your timing belt.