lifestyle auto car

by Marjorie, Social Media Manager

Rob and I were having a chat about oil changes the other day, and I asked him how frequently his average customer visits the shop for routine maintenance, such as oil changes. Although I asked the question for marketing purposes, I was also personally curious to know how the "average" driver maintains his or her car, as I myself am a notoriously neglectful car owner.

His answer was as you would expect: all drivers are different! Some come in for the recommended 3,000 mile oil change, some for 7,000 miles, and a few (like me) come in for maintenance only when their car is hacking and wheezing from a dry engine.

However, I was shocked when he told me about one customer in particular who visits Cars for Keeps for an oil change every two to four weeks. "Two to four weeks - you mean twice a month??!!" I said, aghast that someone would be that dedicated to their car's maintenance. "Isn't that just...unnecessary?" I asked Rob, who did an equivalent of an over-the-phone shrug. "Well, his Lexus is the best in our High Mile Club," he said.

Like all good business owners, Rob keeps tabs on his best customers, inducting owners of cars that show...shall we say "unusual vitality" into the Cars for Keeps High Mile Club. The Club includes vehicles - many of them older - that are still running smoothly after an impressive number of miles (thanks to dedicated owners and the automotive expertise of the Cars for Keeps crew). But Gale and his 2000 Lexus LS400 tops them all, purring smoothly after a whopping 435,000 miles!


Perhaps Gale's bi-monthly oil change visits are a bit excessive, but if you compare the cost of two oil changes per month to a monthly car payment, he's getting quite a deal. In the end, buying a new car (or a new engine or transmission) is far more expensive than maintaining the one you already have. We're not suggesting you come in every month for an oil change, but coming in every three months for an oil change and routine inspection can save you (and your car) from a lot of grief. Remember, Cars for Keeps' routine "Pit Stop" inspections are always free!

Safe driving!

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

The big black rubber band looking thingy, the black strip of rubber you see lying in the middle of a traffic lane, is not a snake; it's a "serpentine" belt.

Every time you see a broken drive belt lying on the ground at a stop light, you see the evidence that someone’s not going to get where they’re going today without some surprises.

When you see a belt on the ground do you wonder what would happen on your car? Do you wonder if your belt (or belts) are getting ready to do the same thing?

Well… Here are a few facts:

a. No belt is impervious to damage from a foreign object. Modern belts are much tougher though and have a more predictable life span. It’s worth noting that most modern vehicles also utilize protector panels keeping out sticks & stones & worse. If a minimum wage quickie lube guy left one off, would you know?

b. Due to the need for cooling, charging and most critically, power steering, most vehicles can’t run for long without a drive belt. The power steering pump is driven by a belt on the vast majority of vehicles, leaving the steering very stiff if the belt fails. Note that your steering won't fail, but to feel the difference, try turning your steering wheel without the engine running… Other reasons are cooling, as usually the water pump stops turning (all the hot coolant just sits still) and charging, because the alternator is no longer being driven, meaning all of the electricity your vehicle is coming directly from the battery which typically won't last long.

c. The belts are one of the more critical items we inspect during your regular pit stops. We follow clear performance and wear specifications to determine if the belt system has the best chance of reliably performing through till the next seasonal pit stop.

What could you expect if the same were to happen to you? The first thing you would probably notice is the battery or alternator warning light on your instrument panel, steering will suddenly become stiff, requiring significantly more effort to turn and the engine will start to run warmer than normal. While each situation is unique, the old standard of continuing the same direction as much as possible, finding the nearest place to pull off the road safely and then turn you heater up all the way before the temperature gets out of control (in winter to give you some cabin warmth you may need for a few minutes). Keep in mind, when the engine temperature gauge goes into the red, damage is occurring, the longer in red, the more lifespan is consumed. Too long and engine replacement is the only option. Don't hesitate to call for help, if you are unsure who to call, we hope you'll think of us (that card in the glovebox?) we'll be glad to guide you in getting the help you need.

The best thing to keep this from happening to you? Get regular maintenance inspections (not just a quickie lube). Our clients get our Seasonal Pit Stops free!

by Robert, Cars for Keeps Technician

The cold weather is upon us. The cold wreaks all kinds of havoc on vehicles. Any problems that you may have had in the warmer months seem to be multiplied by the cold. What are some basic things you can do to protect your vehicle?

1) Marjorie talked earlier about washing away the salt that accumulates from roads. This is great preventative maintenance. It can help minimize any rust from the salt that may form. Not only on the body of the vehicle, but many other parts such as your brake lines or fuel lines.

2) Drive slower. This one should be a no brainer. Driving slower can reduce your chances of being caught in a ditch or worse in an accident.

3) You should also drive slower when your cars engine is cold. This will prevent any premature damage internally to the engine. Many people do not realize the other fluids in your vehicle are also cold, such as transmission fluid, power steering fluid and differential fluids. So avoid high revving your engine and fast cornering until you have at least some drive time to warm those up too.

4) Turn off all accessories when you shut your vehicle off. This includes your lights, blower motor, wiper blades, ect. These extra accessories are not needed when you start your vehicle for the first time and only add an extra draw on your battery when starting your vehicle. Only after your vehicle is started should these be turned on. And don't start the wipers until they are no longer frozen to the windshield!

5) Do not force your windows down. Manual windows are, of course, more resilient to this over power windows. When your windows are frozen shut you should not force them down with the window switch. If they do not go down right away they are frozen shut. You should press up on the switch and wait for them to thaw out. You can speed up the process with a de-icer spray. Many of these motors, just like wiper motors, have plastic gears internally and plastic mounts. They are prone to break especially in the winter, often with costly repairs!

With a few basic steps you can minimize any headaches in the winter and enjoy the holiday season. I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year and a Happy Holiday season.

Drive safe and until next time!

by Colette Cooley, Cars for Keeps Office Manager

About ten years ago, our service manager Dennis Sweet happened to be in the right place at the right time. He was in a parking lot when the battery blew up in one of the parked cars. There were a lady and a dog sitting in the car, very much in distress. She could not open the locked doors because there was no power to unlock them. Battery acid fumes were seeping into the car's interior. The occupants were in extreme danger. Dennis broke out the back window of the car and got both the lady and the dog out safely. In a matter of minutes, the car caught on fire.

Fast forward ten years. This same lady came into Cars For Keeps a few days ago. She was looking for a new repair facility to keep her car maintained properly and she heard some very good things about Cars For Keeps. She and Dennis recognized each other and had a happy reunion. She has made Cars For Keeps her new car maintenance facility “for keeps”. Doing good when the opportunity comes around is like a ripple. It is never forgotten and it keeps circling, coming back to a person in surprising ways. In this case, we welcomed a new customer and also acquired a new friend. I have worked at Cars For Keeps now for four years and have watched these guys consistently go out of their way to help people. Call it “Christmas nostalgia” but from a women’s point of view, this is a good thing.

by Colette Cooley Cars For Keeps Office Manager

by Rob Hopp, Cars for Keeps Owner

by Colette Cooley, Cars For Keeps Office Manager

by Dennis Sweet, Service Manager at Cars for Keeps

by Marjorie, Cars for Keeps Social Media Manager

by Colette Cooley, Cars For Keeps Office Manager

Remembering birthdates, wedding anniversary’s, other important anniversary dates such as: first kiss, first date, first time driving by yourself, first day you met “Him”. It is mostly a woman thing. On the other hand, men tend to remember important dates in the future. The date of the Super Bowl, the opening day of hunting season, and the date when his tax refund should arrive. In typical male fashion, Cars for Keeps' 20th anniversary whizzed right over Rob's head this year. Still, it's not too late to pause for a moment and think about what 20 years of quality repair service has meant.

On November 7, 1989, Rob Hopp took a giant step of faith and courage when he opened the doors of his new business, which was then called Automotive Advantage. There have been some changes since then; a new location and a new name, but the foundation the company was built upon remains the same. To serve the customer with integrity. To give every car a life of at least 250,000 miles, one car at a time. To always use sound business ethics. To give the customer all the information they need so they can make the decisions that are appropriate for them at the time. And my personal favorite: interacting with female customers by educating and informing them respectfully about automotive matters, so they feel comfortable dealing with Cars For Keeps.

We have the best customers in the world. Thank you for your continuous support over the years. Thank you Rob, for giving back to the community that means so much to you. Good Job!

by Dennis Sweet, Service Manager at Cars for Keeps.

Happy Birthday sounds nice at any age. Some people would like to quit having birthdays once they've reached a certain age. Well, I say bring on the birthdays. In case any you are wondering what I am rambling about, I am not talking about myself; I am talking about Cars for Keeps.

As of November 1, 2009 we are 20 years old - hurray! For us, that means 20 years of helping people like yourselves keep your vehicles as long as you wanted to. Here’s to another 20 years of great clients and the satisfaction of being able to help people by keeping their cars healthy.

Thank you to all who have made these last years so rewarding. You have made saying happy birthday worth it.

Until next time,

Dennis

by Robert, Cars for Keeps Mechanic