December 26th, 2011
So it seems as though the winter weather is still alluding us, but the mornings are still freezing cold. Mix that with rain and you will have slippery road conditions that are always precarious to drive on. One thing that can help you out though is changing your tires out for winter tires. Yes, there is the the 'con' of the cost of having to buy a new set of tires, but the question is, are they worth it. Here are some reasons why you should consider some winter tires which can be bought at your local New Jersey car dealer, Sansone Jr's 66 Automall.
First, winter tires are specifically designed to excel in cold weather such as snow, slush and ice. This is because the tread designs and tread compounds are engineered to master these frigid conditions. Whereas summer tires are designed for just the opposite conditions.
If you have ABS, front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or even four-wheel drive, having winter tires on your wheels will only enhance and improve your safety on the road New Jersey. Although there have been advancements in electronic driver aids, such as ABS and traction control, they don't quite provide the traction that an actual winter can. With winter tires you get more control from a better gripping tire.
Some folks think that just replacing two of their tires with winter tires help, but actually it is not recommended. It's best for you to have a complete set of winter tires. Only having winter tires on your drive tires can prove to be more dangerous during winter driving conditions as the non-winter tires won't be able to handle what your winter tires can.
Though all-season tires are good, they are not just good enough. All-season tires are made for multiple conditions and therefore don't really excel in one condition. I think that the winter driving conditions are unpredictable enough to warrant a full set of winter tires.
Your New Jersey car dealer wants to know why you think winter tires are worth the money! Post your comments below and be sure to come tell us at Sansone Jr's 66 Automall today!
December 23rd, 2011
I know that it has been unseasonably warm this winter, which is why I think that any day now Mother Nature is going to unleash all her fury, or a least a snow storm, sooner than later. And I'm hoping this will happen, oh let's say, right when you're planning a trip to visit your family. With that being said, I would like to brush up on some tips on how to drive in the snow. It's been awhile since the last big snow, and drivers can get a little rusty over time. Below are some great tips from your New Jersey car dealer to read up on before the snow hits.
First, as a driver you need to know your limits. This means that if you are not comfortable driving in the snow, then just wait for it to clear out. If you need to get out then you should call someone who is comfortable driving in the snow and preferably has four-wheel drive to help ease your mind being on the road.
If your car is what keeping you from trusting yourself driving then you should come by Sansone Jr's 66 Automall and check out our great selection of four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles. Not only are they good for winter, but they are also great for camping during the summer as it can take you places that some vehicles can't go.
Now if you feel comfortable driving in snowy here are the three major things you should pay attention to New Jersey:
- Avoid sudden actions. This goes for both slamming on brakes as well as fast accelerations and jerking the wheel. Sudden movements can lead to loss of control over your vehicle. Also, if you find that you've hit some ice, try to ride it out without hitting the brakes or moving the steering wheel. You'll be surprise how fast one tire will soon gain some traction.
- Try to foresee any problems before you are too close to make any adjustments. As mentioned above you don't want to make any sudden moves as it can lead to loss of control. You'll want to reduce your speeds a lot sooner than you normally would. for example, brake before you enter a turn of corner, not in the middle of it.
- Keep your momentum going. This is especially true if you are on a grade, in which case do not brake. If you do, you may most likely be the one who just clogged up the road and will have some not very happy drivers behind you.
It is also a great idea to keep at least a half of tank of gas at the minimum at all times. As well as keep a winter emergency kit in your car in case you find yourself stuck. Hopefully we will get some snow soon and until then come check out some great four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles at your New Jersey car dealer, Sansone Jr's 66 Automall.
December 19th, 2011
It’s confession time from your New Jersey car dealer! One of the things that I fear is locking my keys in my car. Sure this is definitely near the bottom on of the list of fears, but is still on there nonetheless. Maybe it’s more than just locking my keys in my car, but something deeper like how would I ever get those keys back without doing some major damage. Or what if I lock them in my Nissan and it is really bad weather outside. In efforts to reduce my fear, I have done a bit of research and came up with a list of tips on what to do should you ever lock your keys in your car. Now hopefully this won’t happen to you, but just in case you should check out the tips below.
Don’t panic. Panicking is not going to help you make a clear decision on what to do. So take a few deep breaths and relax so that you can formulate a plan. If you are having some sort of emergency, then dial 911 as safety is of the utmost importance.
Call your roadside assistance. If your car is under warranty and has roadside assistance call them. Hopefully you’ve programed the number into your phone seeing as tho the number that is listed on your owners manual inside your locked car with the keys inside won’t help. You should also check the decals on the windows to see if there is a number listed there. If you don’t have the number call the dealership where you got your car, Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall. Or if you pay for roadside assistance then call them up.
Call your New Jersey car dealer, Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall and they may be able to help you with a key that can only open your door locks. You’ll need information and proof like the Vehicle Identification Number that the car is truly yours.
Prevent lock-outs by purchasing a car with benefits. This can be anything from keyless entry where you can input your code on the key pad and it will then unlock the doors. Or you can purchase a vehicle that only locks if certain steps are taken as a precaution to help prevent lockouts.
Keep a spare key around. You can keep a spare key with you such as in your purse or wallet. Another place to keep a spare key is in a special hide-a-key box that has a heavy duty magnate that you place somewhere very hidden on your vehicle. You never want to leave any type of identifier with the key to your vehicle in the chance that the key does come dislodged from its hiding place.
Call a tow truck. Tow truck companies are usually equipped to handle lock-out services.
Call a locksmith. I would only do this if it is your last option as this is probably the most expensive route to take. And only do this too if you have pretty much lost your keys and cannot find them.
Create a routine of where you place your keys. We all get in a hurry and occasionally place our keys in random, but convenient places, but this can lead to you locking yourself out of your car. Create a routine where you always put your keys in the same place when they are not being used in the ignition.
We hope that you don’t find yourself in a lockout position, but if you do hopefully you can recall the tips below. Or better yet shop by Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall today for a car than help you from locking yourself out of your own car!
December 16th, 2011
The clock is ticking down to present time New Jersey and if you haven’t finished your shopping your New Jersey car dealer is here to help. Chances are pretty high that you know at least one person who seems to spend a good chunk of time in their car and we have some great gift suggestions just for them. It’s estimated that a person may spend an average of 3 hours each day in their car. Of course this can be plus or minus for how far your commute to and from work is, if you have to drop off and pick up any children, if you travel on very congested roads and so on. So here are some great gifts for those drivers in your life.
The “Smart Mug” – if you have a coffee drinker in your life then this is the ultimate in travel mugs. This mug can keep your hot beverage hot and reheat it if necessary just by plugging it into the 12 volt outlet. The mug also has a LED panel that displays the temperature of the beverage. You can also select a temperature and the mug will alert when it’s ready. Watch out coffee baristas!
Wireless Key Finder – now this is a great invention for those who always seem to lose their keys….you know who you are! And it always seems that keys are lost at the most inconvenient time too. Like when you are very short on time and your keys just seemed to have got up and walked off. Now you can just press a button and listen for the sound of your keys!
Satellite Radio – I’ve heard that once you have satellite radio, you can’t go back to regular radio. You get less commercials, more music and the stations are seemingly endless.
Emergency Kit – I feel like we all talk about being safe in our vehicles, but not all of us actually put those words into motion. Though you never want to have to be in the situation to use an emergency kit, you’ll be very glad that you have one to use if the time arose. Granted, this might not be the most exciting gift, it’s one that says you care.
Gift Certificate for Oil Change – now who wouldn’t want a gift certificate for an oil change from your trusted service center at Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall. Come by today and get one!
If you have any great gift ideas to share for the driver in your life, we would love to hear from you. Just post your ideas below and stop by Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall today!
December 9th, 2011
If you’re a parent then you are always concerned with their safety. And, if you’re a parent with a teen that is new to driving then I’m sure your worry has greatly increased. However, a survey showed that three out of four teens said their biggest influence when it comes to driving safely is their parents. So they do really listen…most of the time. Which is all the more reason to talk about some safe driving tips below and guide them to become a safe driver on the road.
Discuss unsafe driving situations, which there are a lot situations, but here are a few to get started with:
Weather and driving conditions such as rain, snow, fog and ice.
Distracted driving and how deadly it is.
Aggressive drivers and how to get out of their way.
Driving under the influence and how to spot it on the road, and stay away from it.
Driving if tired.
Speeding and how deadly it can be.
Choosing a safe car for your teen driver. Now this is probably a topic that your teen will be most interested in discussing with you. Of course they will want something that is cool, but it should also be safe. And thankfully, safe and cool are found in multiple new Nissan’s, Suzuki’s and Kia’s which you’ll find at Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall. All three brands have top safety rated models and one will be perfect for your teen.
Practice makes perfect. Well almost. The more your teen driver practices the more they will feel comfortable behind the wheel and get real life experience. 50 hours is the recommended amount of time to devote to teaching your teen to drive. Keeping a driving log is a good way to keep track of the hours driven. You can also take down notes on thing that they need to improved on as well as those that they are doing very well at.
Teach the plan of action to take in case of an accident. Accidents can turn anyone’s world upside down. Prepare them with the process of how it all plays out after an accident occurs and what to do so that they are not caught off guard.
You have the most influence when it comes to your teen driver so one thing to remember is set a good example and follow the tips above. We’d love to be your New Jersey car dealer to provide you with a safe car for your teen driver. Come by Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall today.
December 4th, 2011
Your gas light turns on and the alert goes off, yet you decided you make it to your next destination. And your next, and your next and then before you know it your vehicle is stalling out and you’re wondering why. Could it be the battery? The engine? No, you’ve just simply run out of gas. This is an unfortunate situation you have now found yourself and now comes the hard part. Should you call a friend and risk getting weeks, possibly years of ridicule and jokes that you had to be rescued from the side of the road because you ran out of gas. Or do you call roadside assistance? If you have a newer Nissan, Kia or Suzuki and you’re still within in terms of your warranty you should do the latter and call your roadside assistance for help.
Not only running out of gas can be embarrassing, but it can also cause some damage to your vehicle. Now that’s something you want to think twice about before you decide to push your vehicle to make it to your next destination on the last drop. So what can go wrong? A lot of things!
When you’re low on gas the fuel-pump motor starts to suck in air which creates heat and can cause problems with the fuel pump. In fact, gasoline acts like a coolant for the electric fuel-pump motor, so keeping your tank at least one quarter of a tank full is good for everyone!
Fuel pump damage can be minor which could be premature wearing to something more serious which would be complete fuel-pump failure. And unfortunately fixing it could be at least a couple of hundred of dollars.
And as I’ve mentioned above, another problem with running out of gas in your vehicle is that it can leave you stranded! Never mind the jokes that will be made, but it does leave you in an unsafe situation…stranded on the side of the road.
But thankfully, all of this is preventable if you keep your eye on your fuel tank. Here are some helpful tips from your New Jersey car dealer, Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall:
- Don’t let your tank less than a quarter tank full
- To get the most bang for your buck, fill up when it’s coldest (mornings in the summer) and pump slowly
- Download gas price apps so that you’re not driving all around town
- Fill up before at the beginning of the work week or before a long trip
Keep an eye on your gas tank and don’t let it get to low! Keep your gas mileage good with regular scheduled maintenance check too. And always, stop by Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall for the greatest new and used vehicles New Jersey!
November 28th, 2011
It seems that the winter weather can bring out some interesting problems in your vehicle that you really didn’t know you had. For example, tailpipe smoke is definitely one thing that you can see much better in the cold weather versus the warmer weather. More times than not, tailpipe smoke is not a very serious issue, but on some occasions it can be. There are four different types of smoke your vehicle can emit and of course you don’t want to have a bad tailpipe smoking issue so below are some tips on how to tell what type of smoke you may be seeing.
Thin white smoke: No need for concern
If your tailpipe is emitting a thin cloud of white smoke which looks more like a vapor then there is no need for concern. This thin white smoke should dissipate quickly after leaving the tailpipe. This is the result of a normal condensation buildup inside of the exhaust system. It may even be accompanied by some drops of water as well, and this is also no need for concern. The condensation has usually built up over the nighttime and is most commonly seen during the first start up in the morning.
Thick white smoke: Call the tow truck or Get to Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall Service Department
If billowing white smoke is coming out of your tailpipe and does not look anything like the vapory white smoke as describe above then you most likely have a serious problem and need your vehicle to be seen by the service department at Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall. This thick white smoke is an indication of engine trouble and if you continue to drive the vehicle there is potential that it could overheat and you may be faced with even more damage. Possible engine problems could be a blown head gasket, damaged cylinder head, the engine burning coolant or a cracked engine block. All of these are serious problems that need immediate attention as they affect your engine.
Black Smoke: See Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall Service Department
If the exhaust of your vehicle is emitting something that looks more like a coal burning train then you may need to get your vehicle checked out right away as your engine may be burning too much fuel. There are two different kinds of black smoke, one being okay and the other not so much. If you start your car in cold weather and get back smoke, but then it clears up as the engine warms up then it’s not really anything to worry about.
However, if the black smoke keeps on coming out, then it may be an indicator of a dirty or clogged air filter, a clogged fuel injector, or a faulty sensor. Regardless, you will need to get your vehicle checked out.
Grey or Blue Smoke: See Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall Service Department
Oil being burned in the engines combustion chamber may result in thick grey or blue smoke coming out of your tailpipe. This problem can range from something minor as a clogged oil passages or something more serious.
One big concern if your engine is burning oil is that your oil level will be decreasing and will need to be checked often and topped-off too. If this problem is not fixed you can encounter problems with your engines spark plugs.
If your vehicle is emitting questioning smoke from its tailpipe then you need to get to your New Jersey car dealer and see the service department at Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall today!
November 25th, 2011
Black Friday commences the holiday shopping! If you are out with the crowds you are going to be faced with several challenges even before you get into the stores. Safety and parking are key issues that you should have a plan for in addition to your holiday shopping list. Here are some great tips to follow to help keep you and your vehicle safe, from your New Jersey car dealer, Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall.
First, safety is a top priority. You want to keep yourself, any passengers traveling with you, the contents inside your vehicle as well as your vehicle safe. If you are going to be shopping before the sun comes up and after it goes down, then try your best to park in well lit areas.
Some parking lots also offer security so those are a great option to keep your eye out for. You also don’t want to park front-row-Joe as that will put your vehicle at risk for door dings and scratches. Instead, park as far away as possible from congested parking areas. This is also a great way to get in a bit of exercise which is never a bad thing. Take note of where you parked too so you don’t find yourself wandering around.
Another suggestion to protect your vehicle from break-ins is to put all of your valuables and shopping bags in the trunk. If you don’t have a trunk try to find a place to store these items that is hard to see from the outside. You can also put a blanket over these things as well.
If you are making a trip to the car to drop off bags and then are planning on heading back in, it’s a good idea to move to another parking space too. This way you give the impression that you are leaving and possible thieves won’t have you as a target. And definitely be aware of your surroundings when you are traveling to and from your vehicle.
It’s best to shop in pairs, however if you are going at it alone let your family or friends know of your plans and when to expect you home. If you are shopping in pairs but need to split up then have a plan on where to meet up later. Most everyone now a days has a cell phone so that makes communicating that much easier. If not, then plan to meet a certain time and place.
Follow the tips below and keep safe this holiday shopping season. And don’t forget to stop by Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall for a great holiday gift of a new or used vehicle New Jersey!
November 23rd, 2011
I’m willing to bet that at least one time or another you were faced with the challenge of somehow transporting a piping hot casserole or side dish or dessert to a party. Not to mention that you may also have kids and traffic to worry about also since it is usually the driver that is worried about their passengers, especially if they are teenagers, toddlers and babies and how to keep them entertained and most of all safe. But tomorrow, most drivers will also be adding another thing to worry about on their list…how to safely transport Thanksgiving foods! Take the stress out by reading these tips below to ensure a more safe transport of your food from your New Jersey car dealer. These tips are good for anytime you need to transport food too, not just for Thanksgiving.
Pie – besides the turkey itself, pie is the second most import part of the feast! If you’ve spent tons of time baking from scratch then you’ll want to protect these pies like they are your babies! The best way to that is to have an extra pie tin for each pie. You’ll want to place it on top of each pie and wrap the entire thing with tin foil so that the extra pie tin is in place and acts like a top protectant to that ever so coveted pie.
Casseroles – these can be pretty dangerous to transport, especially if they just came right out of your oven. Before you even start the casserole, invest in a casserole dish that has a lid and comes with a travel bag. Yes, these do exist! If you don’t have one, you can grab some of that non-slip cabinet liner and place that under the casserole dish before you put in your car. That way it will keep it from sliding all over and spilling on the carpet in your trunk!
Slow cookers – these are best if they have locking lids. This is a newer feature, so if you have an older model you can use twine to secure the lid to the slow cooker. The best for this big piece of kitchen electrics is in the trunk on top of some non-slip liner or on the floor of the backseat also on some non-slip liner. Since slow cookers do weigh a good amount, plus with the weight of the food inside, should you get into an accident this could become very hazardous to you and your passengers.
Pack up a reusable bag with some reusable containers to haul your leftover back in. You do want leftovers, don’t you? That way you don’t have to go out of your way to return stuff and it will be a nice gesture to the host that you came prepared. I suggest putting all of your Thanksgiving dishes in a non-slip lined box or even a laundry basket will work too. That way they don’t have room to move around and it’ll be an easy way to get them out of the car and into the house as well.
Your New Jersey car dealer wishes you and yours a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
November 18th, 2011
Airbags first started appearing in vehicles in 1973 as an option, however, nowadays airbags are a standard safety feature that comes with new vehicles which is great. They do save many lives however many take the airbag and what it can do for granted. As with any other feature in your vehicle New Jersey you should take the time to read about and the understand the functionality of the airbags. There may be specific functions to each manufacturers airbag, so you should definitely consult your owners manual in addition to reading the below.
Airbags are very similar to heavy-duty plastic balloons that inflate in fractions of a second during a accident. The airbags job is to protect the driver and/or any passengers from injury by providing cushioning and limiting movement during a collision. What most don’t realize is that the airbag is to built to work in conjunction with your seat belt. The seat belt works to hold you in place so that the airbag can provide you protection.
When airbags were first introduced they were only available for the driver and they were mounted on the steering wheel. These days it seems like just about the entire vehicle can almost be a place to hold and airbag.
Although airbags save lives, it is very important to reduce the possibility of airbag injury. Positioning is the most important thing to consider if your vehicle is equipped with airbags. That is, you are most likely to be injured by an airbag is you are sitting very close to the steering wheel, that is less than 10 inches away from the steering wheel. Drivers and passengers should have their seats as far back as possible, especially for shorter stature persons. Seat belts must also be properly worn as well. Airbags deploy at around 200 miles per hour so you want to be as far back as possible. Children under 13 as well as toddlers and infants in car seats should always be riding in the back seat.
Airbags, no doubt, save many lives when people find themselves in a moderate to severe accident. Just make sure to read your owners manual to fully understand the operation and the recommendations to keep yourself safe when riding in your car.
Come by Sansone Jr’s 66 Automall, your New Jersey car dealer, today for a look at some great new and used vehicles with the great safety feature of airbags!
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