Roadside Emergency Kit a Perfect Gift for the College Bound

School is almost back in session and students across the country will soon be packing up their cars and heading off to college. If you are searching for that perfect gift for the college-bound kid in your life, the Car Care Council suggests putting together a roadside emergency kit.

“A roadside kit is easy to assemble, not too expensive and extremely useful, plus it could be a life saver in the event of an emergency,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. “While it’s always a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected while on the road, the best option is to avoid breakdowns and car trouble wherever possible. Performing basic maintenance and observing a regular service schedule can help avoid unforeseen road emergencies.”

Roadside emergency items can fit into a small duffle bag or rubber storage tote and include the following:

- Jumper cables
- Emergency flares
- Flashlight with batteries
- Blankets and extra clothes
- Non-perishable snacks and bottled water
- First aid kit, including essential medications
- Portable USB charger to keep the cell phone running even if the car is not
- Ice scraper, snow brush and small shovel for winter driving
- The Car Care Guide, available free of charge at carcare.org

Visit the Car Care Council’s website to access a number of tips and resources for vehicle maintenance, including a free custom service schedule.

The Car Care Council is the 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.

Read more at: http://www.carcare.org/roadside-emergency-kit-perfect-gift-college-bound/

Dream Vacation or Nightmare Road Trip? Pre-Trip Vehicle Check Can Make the Difference

Road trip car trouble can be a real nightmare, but performing a pre-trip vehicle check helps drivers avoid a vacation breakdown disaster, says the Car Care Council.

“When dreaming about summer vacation, the thought of a roadside breakdown can be terrifying,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Performing a pre-trip driveway inspection gives motorists peace of mind by reducing the chance of unplanned, costly car trouble and providing an opportunity to have any repairs performed by a trusted technician before hitting the road.”

Right in their own driveway, motorists can determine how road ready their vehicle is with a 10-minute vehicle check. If service or repairs are needed, they can be performed in advance to ensure safety and reliability on the road.

Check the tires including tire pressure and tread. Underinflated tires reduce a vehicle’s fuel economy and uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
Check the hoses and belts as they 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 filters and fluids including engine oil, power steering and brake, and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and inspect and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.
Check the brakes and battery to be sure the battery connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free and that the brakes are functioning properly.

The Car Care Council also recommends that motorists restock their emergency kit, consider a pre-trip tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy, and order a free copy of the Car Care Council’s popular Car Care Guide for the glove box at www.carcare.org/car-care-guide.

The Car Care Council is the 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.

Read more at: http://www.carcare.org/dream-vacation-or-nightmare-road-trip-pre-trip-vehicle-check-can-make-the-difference/

The 2017 Dodge Viper Commemorates 25 Years With One Final Lap

After owning the asphalt for 25 years running, the Dodge Viper will roar one final time with the 2017 model — the final year of production for the legendary supercar. Dodge is celebrating the milestone with five exclusive limited-edition models designed to highlight several of the most iconic special-edition Vipers.

2017 Dodge Viper Revs Its Engine

In keeping with 25 years of tradition, the 2017 Dodge Viper is built to do more than perform — it’s handcrafted in Detroit to leave the competition in the dust. All 2017 Dodge Vipers are powered by an all-aluminum 8.4-liter V-10 engine that delivers 645 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque.

For 2017, the Detroit-built supercar that redefined speed and performance for the past quarter century returns with the record-breaking ACR package. With more track records than any production car in the world — 13 road course lap records as certified by the Sports Car Club of America — the Dodge Viper ACR will live on as the fastest street-legal Viper track car ever.

The 2017 Dodge Viper and these special editions will be available for order starting June 24, 2016. Check out all the details on the five special-edition models below:

Five Limited-Edition 2017 Dodge Viper Models

1. 1:28 Edition ACR (American Club Racer) — Celebrating the current Laguna Seca single-lap record of 1:28.65, and featuring the Extreme Aero Package, carbon ceramic brakes and a red and black exterior color scheme that extends to the interior and custom car cover.

2. Viper GTS-R Commemorative Edition ACR — Pays tribute to one of the most iconic Viper paint schemes of all time — the white and blue combination of the 1998 Viper GTS-R GT2 Championship Edition — and includes the Extreme Aero Package, carbon ceramic brakes and custom badging and decals.

3. Viper VoooDoo II Edition ACR — Modeled after the original 2010 Viper VooDoo edition and featuring a black exterior, graphite metallic ACR driver’s stripe with red tracer outline, the Extreme Aero Package, carbon ceramic brakes and custom car cover.

4. Viper Snakeskin Edition GTC — Inspired by the original 2010 Snakeskin ACR and featuring new Snakeskin Green exterior with a custom snakeskin-patterned SRT® stripe, the Advanced Aero Package and custom car cover.

5. Dodge Dealer Edition ACR — Available exclusively through our highest sales volume Viper dealers: Tomball Dodge of Tomball, Texas, and Roanoke Dodge of Roanoke, Illinois. Featuring a Viper White exterior with Competition Blue center stripe, Adrenaline Red driver stripe, the Extreme Aero Package, carbon ceramic brakes and custom car cover.

2017 Dodge Viper Customization and Personalization

When it comes to customization and personalization, your Viper is guaranteed to be unique. Each limited-edition Viper model features a serialized instrument panel badge with the model name that can be customized with the customer’s name.

And with more than 50 million unique build configurations, including the ACR package, available through the “1 of 1” customization program, the 2017 Dodge Viper is truly one-of-a-kind snake.

No two customers can order the same configuration, including color, in the same model year, which means your Viper will stand out in any crowd … even in a Viper den.

Learn more at Dodge Celebrates 25th Anniversary and Final Year of Viper Production with Five Exclusive Limited-edition Models, and start building your own at dodge.com/viper.

Read more at: http://blog.dodge.com/vehicles/special-editions/2017-dodge-viper-special-editions/

Seven Signs Your Brakes Need to be Inspected

Motorists should remember that routine brake inspections are essential to safe driving and maintaining your vehicle.

“When it comes to vehicle safety, the brake system is at the top of the list, so have your brakes checked by an auto service professional at least once a year,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Knowing the key warning signs that your brakes may need maintenance will go a long way toward keeping you and others safe on the road.”

The Car Care Council recommends that motorists watch for seven signs that their brakes need to be inspected:

Noise: screeching, grinding or clicking noises when applying the brakes.
Pulling: vehicle pulls to one side while braking.
Low Pedal:brake pedal nearly touches the floor before engaging.
Hard Pedal: must apply extreme pressure to the pedal before brakes engage.
Grabbing: brakes grab at the slightest touch to the pedal.
Vibration: brake pedal vibrates or pulses, even under normal braking conditions.
Light: brake light is illuminated on your vehicle’s dashboard.
Brakes are a normal wear item on any vehicle and they will eventually need to be replaced. Factors that can affect brake wear include driving habits, operating conditions, vehicle type and the quality of the brake lining material.
Using the Car Care Council’s free personalized schedule and email reminder service is a simple way to help you remember to have your brakes inspected and take better care of your vehicle. It is an easy-to-use resource designed to help you drive smart, save money and make informed decisions.

The Car Care Council is the 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 free copy of the council’s popular Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.

Read more at: http://www.carcare.org/seven-signs-your-brakes-need-to-be-inspected/

Keep Calm and Drive On

If the summer heat drives you to distraction, the last thing you need is a malfunctioning air conditioning (A/C) system when you’re on the road. Checking your vehicle’s A/C annually will help you keep your cool when temperatures soar, says the Car Care Council.

“Getting stuck in traffic is stressful enough, but getting stuck in traffic during the heat of summer without a functioning A/C is the pits,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “It is important to always have the A/C system properly maintained to keep it in tip-top shape and avoid costly repairs down the road.”

A vehicle’s heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC) keeps the interior cabin comfortable in any season by providing the right temperature and humidity level. A thorough inspection should be performed annually and a typical A/C service consists of the following steps:

A service technician checks pressures to test operation, refrigerant charge and outlet temperatures.

If the system is found to be low on refrigerant, a leak test is performed to find the source of the leak. Keep in mind that if your vehicle is leaking refrigerant, it is damaging the ozone layer.

Refrigerant may be added if necessary to “top off” the system, although some states do not allow “topping off.”

A technician may also check for evidence of refrigerant cross-contamination, which is the mixing of refrigerants.

A/C service should also include a check of the compressor’s drive belt and tension.

“Checking the A/C once a year is key to making sure your cooling system is running efficiently all year long,” White said. “A properly running HVAC system will help improve your gas mileage, is more environmentally-friendly and will keep you calm as you drive on.”

The Car Care Council’s free personalized schedule and email reminder service is a simple way to help you take better care of your vehicle this summer and throughout the year. It is an easy-to-use resource designed to help you drive smart, save money and make informed decisions.

The Car Care Council is the 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 free copy of the council’s popular Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.

Read more at: http://www.carcare.org/keep-calm-and-drive-on/