10 Holiday Gifts for the Car Lover in Your Life
The holiday season is here, and it’s time to get your car lover the gifts they wait for all year!
Shipping delays and shortages will be worse this year than last, so now is the time to start thinking about what to get your loved ones.
Finding the perfect gift for the vehicle fanatic in your family can be challenging. It can get confusing between the myriad options out there and not knowing precisely what they might like. So, we thought we would help you out by making a list of 10-holiday gifts for the car lover in your life.
- Dash-Mount – Not only is this a useful and affordable gift option, but it can also help keep your loved one safe on the road. It is all too easy to grab your phone and look directly down at it when using your GPS. A good dash-mount will position the phone in a safe location, making your GPS experience much safer.
- GPS – If you have a family member that loves the outdoors and wants access to detailed GPS maps, far off the beaten path. You can’t go wrong with a physical GPS. Garmin makes excellent options that are more detailed than what your phone GPS provides; beyond that, they don’t lose reception.
- Keychain Accessories – There are tons of cool keychain accessories out there. Some examples are door openers, window breakers (for emergencies), and customized keychain nametags. Google “keychain accessories” and look through all the cool stuff available.
- Emergency Kit – A roadside emergency kit can contain MREs, road flares, survival blankets, flashlights, batteries, and so much more. This is the perfect gift for anyone that likes to prepare.
- Key Finder – There is nothing more frustrating than losing your keys with no way to find them. Brands like “Tile” make key finders with embedded GPS locators you can access from an app on your phone. Say goodbye to the endless mornings searching for your keys.
- Trunk Organizer – This is perfect for the person that likes to have everything in its designated spot or for someone who has trouble finding things when they need them. Trunk organizers are a great way to keep your vehicle sorted.
- Tire Inflator – Tools and gadgets have come a long way in the last 5-10 years. We now have access to affordable wireless tire inflators that are the shape and size of your household drill.
- Car Care Kit – Armor All makes a great “Premier Car Care Kit” that will satisfy the vehicle lover in your family. The kit costs around $40 and contains everything you need to detail the inside and outside your vehicle.
- Car-Guy Shirts – Nothing says “car-guy” like some vehicle merchandise. Find out what your loved ones’ favorite vehicle brands are and find some cool swag for them to wear.
- Vacuum Cleaner – Portable vacuum cleaners are now available in models that run off our vehicle’s power sources. You can charge them with your cigarette lighter and USB ports, and they run wirelessly. This is a great gift for someone who cares about the appearance of their vehicle’s interior and wants to keep it looking brand new.
Hopefully, some of these options get your gears turning and help you decide on a fun gift for the car lover in your life. Don’t wait too long to order; shipping delays are here, and item shortages will likely worsen. Take some time now to order your gifts so that they will be here in time. Beyond that, visit your local certified auto repair center if you need help getting to the holiday party this year.
So, before heading to the holiday dinner, visit Dick’s Automotive in Clovis, CA! Contact us to schedule an appointment today to meet our passionate crew of master technicians! Also, visit us on our Facebook page and say hi!
How to Handle Thanksgiving Travel
Thanksgiving in the California Central Valley conjures up images of autumn leaves by the roadside, persimmon cookies in the oven, and cinnamon-scented candles in a family home. The holiday season is a time to snuggle up and enjoy each others’ company. Winter weather sneaks up on us in California; it’s best to get a handle on it ahead of the Holiday season!
The colder months in California’s Central Valley remain relatively dry most of the time, but winter conditions can and do creep in! The abundance of farmland surrounding us means we are susceptible to washed-out roads and flash floods in farming areas. All that tilled earth makes for an excellent mud soup recipe, haha! So before you head out to spend time with family, check out our ideas on how to handle Thanksgiving travel!
Prepare a Road Kit – A road kit is a bag, container, or loose collection of items that keep you prepared in case of an emergency or unplanned event! It does rain in the central valley, and sometimes we aren’t prepared for the situation. Some ideas of things to have in a road kit include: flashlights, batteries, space blankets, flares, paper towels, Fix-a-Flat, ice scrapers, etc.
Check Your Spare Tire – This is a great time to take a look at your spare tire and make sure it is ready for you if you need it! Check your spare tire’s pressure and fill it to the proper PSI; if it needs it. If you don’t have a spare tire, consider purchasing one, so you can be prepared for the road ahead. Nobody wants to get stranded with a flat, sitting on the side of the road, missing the thanksgiving turkey, haha!
Check Your Lights – Our lights are easy to overlook in our daily routine, but it is never more important than on those long road trips to visit family and friends! Inspect your headlights, fog lights, brakes lights, turn signals, and interior car lights. If any of them are out, make sure to replace them before you and the family head out this Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is full of fun, food, and fantastic time with family and friends. However, nothing puts a stop to all that faster than getting stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck to change your tire! Keep you and your family safe this holiday season by double-checking some of the things we listed here, and consider having your vehicle inspected by a trusted auto center before the trip!
If you need help getting your car ready for the Thanksgiving get-together, visit Dick’s Automotive in Clovis, CA! We pride ourselves on providing the best quality service in the Clovis/Fresno area, and we would love to help you and your family safely hit the road. Contact us to schedule an appointment today, and we will make sure you and your family hit the road safely this Thanksgiving!
Why Preventative Maintenance Matters
I am sure we have all heard the saying “Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance”. Well, that saying applies to your vehicle’s preventive maintenance, too! You can save yourself a lot of stress and money by staying on top of your vehicle’s basic needs.
Just like us, our vehicles have an anatomy of systems– wiring instead of arteries, suspension instead of muscles, and a chassis instead of bones. Both are a physical structure that keeps us and our vehicles moving forward. Our bodies heal with rest and energy, but cars have no such self-repairing ability. Preventative maintenance is necessary to keep your vehicle performing under pressure!
Keeping your vehicle fed, watered, and cleaned is important in maintaining its health year-round! Just like we take care of animals and ourselves, we want to take care of our vehicles the same way. Your vehicle runs on a complicated network of fluids, belts, hoses, and physical machinery that all work in concert to get you where you need to go. Here are four reasons preventative maintenance should matter to you:
- It keeps you safe – Staying on top of your brake maintenance, tire maintenance, and fluids will keep you and your family safe! Rainy conditions can sneak up on us in the Central Valley, so make sure your vehicle is ready for all the weather conditions it might encounter.
- It saves you money – It all comes down to saving you money in the end! The closer you pay attention to keeping your vehicle healthy day-to-day, the less likely you are to have those major expenses in the future. You might feel like you are saving money at the moment by not fixing the little things as they pop up. However, those little things become big when they ultimately lead to systems crashing, transmission issues, and actual collisions in the worst-case scenario!
- It gets you where you need to go – Importantly, preventative maintenance makes sure that your vehicle keeps doing what it is supposed to do, transferring you from Point-A to Point-B. In the end, our car is there to get us places; if it isn’t taken care of, we ain’t goin’ nowhere, haha!
- It keeps your vehicle healthy – Keeping your vehicle’s fluids clean, topped off, and regularly changed makes sure that its internal processes function properly. Beyond that, making sure its belts and hoses are properly maintained prevents you from incurring major expenses in the future!
Preventative maintenance might seem like a pain in the rear, but it helps you avoid pain in the wallet later on! We suggest that you stay on top of the regular things. Check your tire pressure, check your tire tread, keep an ear out for brakes squeaking, and have your hose and belts examined. Hopefully, this list helps you consider preventative maintenance in the future and why it is so important!
When considering preventative maintenance on your vehicle, there is nobody better for the job than Dick’s Automotive in Clovis, Ca! Our seasoned team of ASE-Certified Auto Technicians brings decades of experience keeping vehicles on the road to you and your family. Contact us today and schedule an appointment to check your belt, hoses, tires, fluid, and more. We look forward to meeting you and inviting you to be a part of the Dick’s Automotive family!
Brakes Equal Safety: Warning Signs You Won’t Want To Miss
Many of us purchase our vehicles based on their vehicle safety rating and how likely they are to keep us safe in the event of an accident. A crucial part of that puzzle is the type of brakes you have and their health. There are several different brake systems available today, and they all require some level of service at one time or another. You might be surprised that many people don’t know what to look for or listen for when diagnosing a potential problem with their brakes.
A lot of factors go into keeping your brakes functioning at their top level. Like a puzzle, the brake system is complicated and includes many interconnected parts that rely on each other to function correctly. The brake fluid, brake pads, discs, rotors, etc., all work together in perfect harmony to keep you and your family safe. Your vehicle’s brake system is complicated, and something as seemingly simple as topping off brake fluid can be much more tricky than you think. We want you to be safe on the road, so we compiled a list of some of the more common problems you might encounter with your brakes.
Here are some warning signs you will want to be on the lookout for before you head out:
- Brake Light On: This might seem obvious to most people, but we know well that clients often overlook problems as “a simple light that will go away on its own.” However, we strongly recommend that you take this seriously. It could be the first sign of a dangerous issue in the future!
- Grinding, Scraping, or Squealing: You might encounter either one of these issues. Both are clear-cut signals that you need to service your brakes or replace them as soon as possible.
- Slow to Stop: You press on your brakes, but your vehicle doesn’t respond the way it used to. It takes longer to stop, or worse, you might have to pump your brakes to get the car to stop. Again, it would be best if you had your brakes examined as soon as possible.
- Shaking or Jerking: Your vehicles may shake as your brakes begin to fail, causing a noticeable shaking of the steering wheel. You may also feel a jerking sensation as one side of your vehicle’s brakes fail while the others remain functional.
- Leaking Fluid: Any time your vehicle is leaking fluid, you want to have it looked at immediately, especially in the case of leaking brake fluid. Leaking brake fluid can be challenging to identify by simply looking at it, so we strongly suggest that you bring your vehicle to have our auto mechanics look at it.
Now that the weather is cooling down, many of us are looking for weekend trip ideas and ways to get away with the family. The California Central Valley’s best day trips, like Yosemite, Sierra National Forest, and Kings Canyon National Park, involve steep uphill and downhill drives. You might even encounter wet or muddy driving conditions, the types of driving conditions that can be very taxing on your brake system. We want to be sure that we know what to look for if something begins to go wrong in these moments.
So, before you and the family take that road trip to Yosemite, you are going to want to make sure that your brakes are serviced and functioning properly. Contact us if you have any questions regarding issues with your brakes, and we can schedule an appointment. Our ASE-certified auto mechanics at Dick’s Automotive will make sure you and your family hit the road safely!
Upcoming Specials
It’s time for our August blog, and we want to bring you an upcoming special you won’t want to miss out on! Here at Dick’s Automotive, we offer superior auto service and want you to leave our shop with your vehicle in perfect condition. For our upcoming special, we would like to offer 10% off any air conditioning servicing your vehicle may need.
If you have a newer car made in 2017 or beyond, your new A/C system runs on an expensive refrigerant (1234YA?) that costs $100 per ounce! We will take 10% off the labor to help you save some money but still have your system serviced with this discount. With the heat waves and expensive refrigerants, you don’t want to risk having a leak in your car’s A/C system.
If you want to take advantage of this special offer, we encourage you to schedule an appointment today or come by our shop at 1550 Tollhouse Rd, Clovis, CA, 93611. We want to inspect your vehicle to be sure your car is in perfect condition when hitting the road. Take advantage of this limited time offer and come by today for professional and courteous service!
How To Keep Your Car Cool During the Summer
Keeping your car cool is not just a matter of safety, but survival. A recent study conducted by Stanford found that during the summer, a car can heat up by an average of 40 degrees in a couple of minutes. This may be worrisome because it puts you and your pets/children in a dangerous spot. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child heat strokes can occur at just 70 degrees. On the other hand, your car can heat up to 96 degrees.
To help you prevent this, we’ve prepared a list of basic steps you can take to ensure your, your car’s, and your family’s safety.
- Park in shady areas: This is a must. If you can’t park into a garage and have to use a public parking lot, then do whatever you can to park under a tree or in an area with weaker sunlight. If you can’t do that for obvious reasons, don’t worry, we got you covered!
- Use a sunshade: Let’s be hones: Finding a great parking spot is a nightmare. It’s far easier to get a quality car sunshade. Good car sunshades cover the most significant piece of glass of your car and block up to 95% of sunlight! And the best part? Sunshades (even the best ones) are cheap and affordable!
- Tint your windows: If you are not fond of sunshades, a great alternative is to tint your windows. While tinting your windows doesn’t prevent light from coming in, it does block the UV and thermal rays, which do most of the damage. We’d suggest letting a professional do the tinting, but if you are a hardcore vehicle enthusiast, you can do it yourself!
DISCLAIMER: Different states allow different tinting degrees, so before you do anything, refer to your state’s window tinting guide.
- Cover your dashboard: A good dashboard cover can help block further sunray spread, but we suggest that you have also either tinted your windows, used sunshade, or parked in a shady spot beforehand.
- Wrap your steering wheel: Another useful thing to do is to wrap your steering wheel, because we all know how hot our steering wheels can get in the Clovis sun.
- Cover your whole car: Yes. Sometimes that’s what you gotta do! Even if you have sun shades a cover on the interior of your vehicle, the car paint can still be damaged from the extreme outside heat. When you want to keep your car cool during the summer, covering it completely might be the most practical thing to do.
If you are suspicious and feel that the summer has damaged your car in some way, but you can’t uncover it, don’t hesitate to contact us and set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians, and we will perform an inspection to make sure your vehicle is happy, healthy, and ready for the journey ahead. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
Fun in the Sun: Best Summer Road Trips in Clovis
We can’t believe how fast the year is going by! It is almost summertime. Not only will the temperatures be rising, but the pandemic is almost coming to an end. The team at Dick’s Automotive thinks this is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the open road. Fortunately, Clovis is centrally located near many summer road trips.
To help you make your destination more effortless, we have compiled a list of the best summer road trips in and near Clovis (all of these drives are easily reachable on day trips from Clovis)
- Yosemite National Park
- Hume Lake
- Kings Canyon National Park
- Sequoia National Park
- Mono Hot Springs
- Huntington Lake
- Bakersfield
- Los Padres National Forest
- Big Sur
- Pinnacles National Park
- Monterey
- Santa Maria
- Sacramento
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
Before you embark on your road trip, we encourage you to stop by Dick’s Automotive for an inspection. This way, we can make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape and ready to go for your next adventure. If you decide to go on any of these trips, please let us know how it went!
Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians, and we will perform an inspection to make sure your vehicle is happy, healthy, and ready for the journey ahead. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
Keep Your Vehicle Hydrated By Checking These Fluids
No matter who, where, or even what you are, we all have to drink fluids to stay hydrated and survive. Your vehicle is no different. Regardless of make, mileage, or model, your vehicle needs certain fluids to stay performing in tip-top condition for the long term. If your vehicle is low on fluids, its overall performance and driveability will be negatively affected. To ensure your vehicle stays safe, the team at Dick’s Automotive recommends staying on a routine maintenance schedule.
To keep your vehicle healthy and hydrated, it is essential to have these fluid levels inspected by a professional:
- Oil: We have all heard of this fluid, but you might be surprised to learn how many individuals forget to have this fluid inspected. Your vehicle is made up of thousands of moving parts, and all these parts need to stay lubricated, which is where oil comes in. When your vehicle doesn’t have enough oil, your engine might succumb to expensive and dangerous repairs.
- Transmission Fluid: Your transmission is easily one of your vehicle’s most complicated components. Without transmission fluid, your transmission system might start to break down, as transmission fluid works the same as oil — it keeps your transmission properly lubricated.
- Radiator Fluid: Coolant can be found in your radiator fluid, and coolant keeps your engine cool. Your vehicle’s radiator fluid will be tailored to your vehicle’s make, along with the time and temperature of the year.
- Brake Fluid: One of the systems most crucial to your overall safety is your braking system. Without properly working brakes, you could easily find yourself in a potentially dangerous and scary situation. Brake fluid regulates both the high pressure and temperature in your braking system.
- Power Steering Fluid: If your vehicle doesn’t have enough power steering fluid, you might not be able to steer straight through the streets of Clovis. This fluid is imperative to keep you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road safe.
Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians, and we will take a look at your vehicle’s fluids to make sure your vehicle is happy, healthy, and hydrated! We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
Let’s Make Sure Your Windshield Wipers are Ready for April Showers
Now that spring is here, we are starting to see the sun shining, the flowers blooming, and the world becoming alive again after winter. Even though we might be seeing more blue skies, we do have to be wary of spring showers. We have all heard of the saying — “April showers bring May flowers.” Your windshield wipers need to be ready for the upcoming downpour, as they are your first line of defense.
When driving in the rain, you can’t see as well, and you will be driving on a slippery, wet road. To deal with these road conditions, your windshield wiper needs to be performing correctly. If you are experiencing any of these signs, your windshield wipers, most likely, need to be replaced:
- You notice the rubber on your windshield wiper blades is cracked or broken.
- When your windshield wipers are being used, you see streaks left behind.
- You hear a chattering sound when you use your windshield wipers.
- You see that your windshield wipers are not reaching some spots on your windshield.
- The actual metal part of your windshield wiper is bent.
At Dick’s Automotive, we put your safety first. If you believe your windshield wipers need to be replaced, don’t hesitate to contact our team for windshield wiper replacement. We don’t want you driving in an April shower without properly working windshield wipers. Together, we can make sure you and your vehicle are ready for these upcoming spring showers.
Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians for windshield wiper replacement. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
Difference Between Your Vehicle’s Cabin Air Filters and Engine Air Filters
Modern vehicles have types of air filters — cabin air filters and engine air filters. It is no surprise that many of our clients think that these air filters have similar functions, but these filters perform quite different tasks in reality. If you stick to a regular maintenance schedule, our technicians will keep an eye on both your cabin air filter and engine air filter.
Let’s start with your engine air filter. What exactly does it do? Your vehicle has an intake system which essentially draws air into your engine. To keep debris and dust out of your engine, your engine air filter ensures clean air only reaches your engine. If your engine air filter is not well-maintained, it may not be working correctly, and debris, dust, and grime can potentially enter your engine and wreak havoc on other parts of your engine. Our technicians will check your engine air filter at our shop and recommend a replacement, if necessary.
Your cabin air filter might look like your engine air filter, but it has a very different responsibility. Your cabin air filter is located at the mouth of your heater box and filters out any dust, soot, pollen, or other allergens from entering your cabin. This filter makes sure you are breathing fresh and clean air in the cabin of your vehicle. It is essential to bring your vehicle to Dick’s Automotive for regular cabin air filter maintenance because it can quickly become inundated with particles.
With Spring almost here, it is even more important to keep a close eye on your cabin air filter, as we don’t want harmful allergens from reaching your cabin. Our technicians will also inspect your engine air filter to ensure you ready to go for the upcoming season. Contact us today to set up an appointment with our qualified and honest technicians. We are conveniently located at 1550 Tollhouse Road in Clovis, CA. 93611, and we look forward to seeing you and your vehicle soon!
