Ask a Technician: How do I know if I need new wiper blades?

In severe weather conditions, whether or not your vehicle is safe could depend on how functional the rubber windshield wiper blades are on your vehicle. Read on to learn if it is time for you to purchase a new set of wiper blades from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Glen Burnie.

When do you need new windshield wiper blades?

Worn-out wiper blades usually remind you they're wearing out by the sound that they make. If during operation you hear an annoying "squeak" every time they "swish," it's time for new wiper blades. A rubber windshield wiper that's cracked can't keep your windshield clear during wet weather conditions and this increases your risk of having an accident. Additionally, if the rubber wears off and any part of the metal wiper hits the glass, your windshield could be damaged.

How often should rubber blades be replaced?

Inspection of your vehicle's rubber wiper blades should be a part of every regular maintenance inspection. You don't want to have to pull your vehicle over during a downpour or snowstorm just because you can't see out the windows. A better strategy is to regularly check their condition and either have them replaced during a service appointment at your dealership, or change them yourself. Just be sure to check your vehicle's operating manual for the right replacement size.

Should you replace windshield wiper blades yourself?

If you are car savvy and accustomed to doing small DIY projects on your car, changing the wiper blades isn't a difficult task if you purchase the correct replacement. After reading the directions on the package, clean the glass windshield to remove any debris and to make the surface smooth. Replacement wiper products sometimes recommend applying glass treatment to the windshield. This step improves the effectiveness of the new blades.

What is the evolution of wiper blades?

For decades, car designs have changed radically while the standard design for wiper blades hasn't. The first real evolution to come along beyond a single wiper blade was the two-blade design with wings during the 1980's. Eventually, other designs incorporated even more wiping edges within one rubber strip. However, problems arose on multiple edged wipers because their design allowed too much space for ice and snow to clog the wiper action and they stopped working when drivers needed them most.

What about new contoured windshield blade designs?

Enter the contoured, frameless wiper blade. This innovative design has a benefit standard rubber blades don't have-even pressure over the entire blade surface. When wiper blades wear evenly there's no more premature failure of the blades due to worn edges. This design also prevents ice build-up between the rubber wiper blade and the metal frame. You don't have to worry about them freezing if you find yourself driving in below freezing temperatures. Contoured, frameless windshield wipers are now standard on many new car models.

You don't want to ignore this small, inexpensive item that can make a big difference when you must drive your car during bad weather conditions.

Enjoy the Luxury of Added Protection with Extended Warranties

You're feeling pretty good having just paid off your car, until you need to replace the fuel pump, or the transmission, or any other components that could go wrong. Once the repair bill is calculated, you realize that it's as much or more than a car payment, but you don't want to continue making car payments. You probably wished you'd have gotten that extended warranty. Read on for more about the luxury of extended warranties from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Glen Burnie.

Extended warranty basics. Most automobile manufacturers offer the option of purchasing an extended warranty, lengthening the original warranty period beyond the normal expiration date. With an extended warranty, you get most of the services from the dealer that the original warranty covers. Some consumers purchase the extended warranty with the original purchase of the vehicle and simply add it to the monthly payment. You can also purchase an extended warranty once the original warranty is about to expire.

Extended warranty or new vehicle. You'll most likely discover that the cost of an extended warranty saves you a considerable amount of money when compared to the price of a new vehicle, which means you can have the peace of mind of having a car under warranty while not having to dish out a monthly car payment.

Extended manufacturer's warranty vs third party company. There are two types of extended automobile warranties available on most vehicles. The aforementioned manufacturer's extended warranty is the more common of the two and, in most cases, the more reliable. Third party companies also sell extended warranties, allowing you to get your vehicle worked on at certain shops and then reimbursing you for the costs. Make sure you read the fine print before purchasing an extended warranty and do your research, especially when it comes from a third party distributor, many of which aren't as reputable as the dealership where you purchased the vehicle initially.

What extended warranties do not cover. When factoring in the cost of vehicle maintenance vs buying a new car, you should understand what is and isn't covered by most extended warranties (as always, make sure you know what's covered before you buy it.). Extended warranties cover most major vehicle components, but are not as extensive as the original bumper-to-bumper warranties you had when you first bought the vehicle. Wear items, such as head lights, tires, brakes, shocks are not normally covered with an extended warranty.

Things to consider. If you plan on keeping your vehicle for many years, you're a likely benefactor from an extended warranty, especially if you're on a fixed budget that could be blown up by a costly repair. Like any insurance product, there are differing costs and differing coverage. Make sure the extended warranty covers what you need it to cover and fits within your budget.

 
If your objective is to own your car without having a monthly payment and staying within a budget, the luxury of added protection is a good choice.

3 Technologies That Are Revolutionizing the Driving Experience

Auto manufacturers have always been at the forefront when it comes to new technology. In a very competitive market, being able to develop new gadgets and capabilities is critical when it comes to selling new cars. So while new car models feature the latest developments, engineers are already working on the ‘next big thing.’ So what will be the next big developments in technology to revolutionize the driving experience? Here are three ideas from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Glen Burnie.

Cars that can communicate with each other

One of the biggest challenges in road safety comes from the independence that one vehicle has over another. Car drivers are almost entirely insulated from each other and the outside world until disaster strikes. One technology that is trying to address this problem is called Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication – or V2V. V2V technology is now being used by manufacturers as potential technology for future cars.

V2V sends wireless signals about a car’s location, speed, and direction. These signals are, in turn, received by other cars, which interpret this information and make appropriate conclusions. That may be simply to warn the driver, or it could mean applying the brakes. A logical progression from V2V is V2I – Vehicle-to-Infrastructure. This would allow cars to talk to traffic signals and other technology to help further control traffic and speeds.

Airbags that prevent collisions

The airbag is almost certainly one of the greatest car safety gadgets and has saved countless lives since the technology was first developed. Airbags are a great example of a passive safety feature, which means that they reduce the risk of death or injury in the event of an accident. The technology could be used, however, as an active safety feature, which could actually help prevent accidents.

Manufacturers are now experimenting with air bags, which would deploy beneath a vehicle in the event that a potential collision was about to occur. A special coating would help slow the car down, helping the driver to stop much more quickly. By lifting the car up, these bags would also reduce the risk of injury from passengers slipping under seat belts and would lessen any potential damage or injury from bumper-to-bumper impact.

Cars that can drive themselves

The ultimate new technology must surely be one that removes the need for a car to have a driver. Any kind of independent driving technology would, of course, ensure that rules were always adhered to and would remove the margin for human error that almost certainly costs many lives every year. The technology giant Google has invested heavily in the self-driving car to date, although the big manufacturers are also likely to adopt this technology. Who knows whether it will be possible to purchase a self-driving production car within ten years?

Tips for Properly Using Your Rearview Mirrors

Your car has rearview mirrors for a very good reason. These mirrors greatly increase your visibility when driving and maneuvering your car, and without them, you could not really drive your car to any safe extent. Strangely enough, this still does not seem to deter some drivers from largely ignoring them, but as every driving instructor will tell you, using your mirror should become second nature. Here are four simple tips from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Glen Burnie to ensure that you use your rearview mirrors safely and effectively.

Keep them clean. It may seem obvious, but your rearview mirrors are only useful if you keep them clean. The side-view mirrors are likely to get very dirty, especially during wet, wintry weather. Ensure that you give your mirrors a good wipe before you set out, and you might want to try keeping a packet of wipes in the driver's door to help you remember. Even though it is inside, your rearview mirror can get grubby too, so give that a good wipe from time to time as well.

Use them all the time – even when driving straight. When you are driving in a straight line, it is easy to become complacent and to become less alert about the road. It is vital that you continue to use all your mirrors to keep a full perspective of what is going on around you. Check for vehicles approaching you from behind, so that you can see if somebody is about to overtake you, or so that you can spot any other unexpected hazards.

Keep using mirrors when passing. Some drivers will simply check their mirror once before passing, assuming that a quick glance will ensure that it is safe to maneuver. In fact, you should check your mirrors, signal that you intend to move out, check your mirrors again and only then finally pull out. Keep checking your mirrors while you are passing and then check the appropriate side-view mirror to check that it is safe to pull back in.

Use all your mirrors at roundabouts. When approaching a roundabout, many drivers focus entirely in one direction, and that is simply to check for a gap to join the roundabout. It is, however, really important to use all your mirrors. Check for vehicles in the lane beside you, particularly as the cars will be further back. If the car next to you decides to pull out, you need to be aware that it is there. Check for vehicles approaching you from behind on the roundabout and ensure that your exit really is clear before your maneuver by checking your mirrors once again.

Ask a Technician: Are highway miles better for my car than city miles? -

When it comes to wear and tear on your vehicle, not all miles are the same. City driving, due to its stop and go nature, leads to more wear and tear on the engine, transmission, and other critical parts. Learn more about highway versus city miles and their effect on your vehicle from our skilled service team at Sheehy Nissan of Glen Burnie

Gas mileage. Many drivers become aware of a difference in city miles and highway miles when they go to purchase a car and notice the miles per gallon rating. A vehicle can generally be expected to get significantly more miles to the gallon driving on a highway than driving in the city. This difference in miles per gallon provides clues as to why highway miles are better for your car than city miles—and it has nothing to do with magic gasoline being sold at freeway entrances.

Efficient and inefficient miles. A car gets better gas mileage on the highway because highway miles are more efficient than city miles. How Stuff Works says that the “sweet spot” for maximum fuel efficiency “is in the range of 40-60 mph” for most cars, and you're much more likely to be close to this zone while driving on the highway. City driving also requires more stopping, which means more going, which means a car's engine spends a lot less time at efficient speeds and a lot more time revving up after a stop sign or stoplight. It is also much more likely your vehicle is able to "cruise" on the highway without having to slow down or brake.

Stopping and going. The stopping and going doesn't just increase wear and tear on the engine. Other crucial parts of an automobile are worn faster through stop-and-go city traffic. An obvious component is the brakes. There's a reason drivers take the highway if a highway route is available, even if it means traveling a few extra miles. It's because you don't have to stop every few seconds or slow down because some individual decided to go 19 miles below the speed limit (if your heart rate just accelerated at the mention of following someone going 19 miles below the speed limit, take a deep breath.).

The transmission. It costs a lot of money to replace a transmission. On the highway, you're going at a steady speed, oil pressure is higher, internal engine parts are better protected, and engine temperature is stable. In addition, your gears aren’t shifting up and down constantly as they would with stop-and-go driving. Transmissions only wear when they shift. Therefore, highway driving causes less wear and tear on your transmission.

Buying a pre-owned vehicle. Because there really is no way to truly know how many of an automobile's miles were highway and how many were city, your astute knowledge of highway miles can only be applied to maintenance on a vehicle you've been driving. If you're worried about the wear and tear on a vehicle you want to purchase, you'll want to buy a pre-owned vehicle that's been certified by a reputable dealer. Our dealer mechanics give all vehicles a thorough inspection, so you can be sure you're getting a car that will give you what you need—be it on the highway or in the city.