As we all know, winters here in Indianapolis, IN, get very cold. Our flat prairie landscape allows the wind to howl across the land and drop the temperature even further. Winter driving requires good preparation and regular car maintenance to enjoy a safe, trouble-free driving season, and it's never too early to start taking steps to keep your family safer on the road. As your Acura dealership, we want to give you a few tips on good maintenance to prepare for the weather. more Battery Check The average life of a battery is three to five years, but this can be reduced due to extreme weather. Our winters can be battery-killers, particularly if you have an older battery. Low temperatures make the battery's electrolyte solution more viscous, reducing its power and storage capacity. If the temperature drops to 0 F or lower, the electrolyte can freeze, and your battery will fail. We advise testing your battery before winter arrives. Our technicians will connect your battery to our computerized battery tester. This machine subjects your battery to various tests to determine its strength and storage capacity. If your battery is weak, we can replace it in minutes to ensure it works through the winter. If your battery is healthy, we advise parking your Acura in a garage in winter, if possible, to prevent your battery from freezing outside. Fluid Check Your Acura contains numerous fluids that keep your engine clean and healthy, allow the brakes to work effectively, ensure your transmission shifts gears, and that your windshield stays clean. All these fluids weaken over time and become less efficient. Older brake fluid, for example, can overheat and lose its ability to provide the hydraulic power your brakes need to engage. Engine oil is a particular concern in winter. Old oil is thick, and it becomes even thicker as the temperature drops. Thicker oil can block the oil filter, causing engine problems ranging from increased friction damage to components to an overheated engine. Our technicians can easily check all your fluids and replace them if necessary. Windshield Wiper Check Your windshield wipers are easy to forget, but they're vital when snow starts to fall. Your wipers can quickly clear snow and ice off the windshield to give you the visibility you need. We check your wipers to ensure the rubber blades are in good condition. Cracks in the wipers can cause them to break, and broken wipers can scratch your windshield. We can install winter wipers to make driving in snow much easier. Their heavier and thicker blades are more resistant to damage from the cold. We'll also replace your windshield wiper fluid with a variant that includes antifreeze to prevent the wiper fluid from freezing in low temperatures. If you'd like to know more about preparing your vehicle for winter, contact us today at Ed Martin Acura in Indianapolis, IN.
If the muffler on your car ever malfunctions, you're likely to be assaulted by much louder engine sounds and unpleasant exhaust odors, along with various other car problems. Let's take a look at the most common warning signs of a bad car muffler. It's advisable to have an Acura service right away to have a faulty muffler repaired. If repair isn't possible, you might need to have a new muffler installed instead. more Unusually Loud Engine Roaring As the name implies, the primary purpose of a muffler is to muffle the car's engine sounds. This keeps our cities relatively quiet and free from excessive road noise pollution. The first sign of a malfunctioning muffler is usually dramatically increased engine volume. As most states have strict laws regarding the maximum decibel levels that car engines are permitted to make, it's wise to have a faulty muffler repaired or replaced without delay. Foul-Smelling Exhaust Fumes The catalytic converter does the lion's share of converting noxious exhaust fumes into more benign gases. However, the muffler helps in this task, also filtering some of the fumes. This means when a muffler breaks down, more toxic fumes will be escaping the exhaust than usual. As some of these fumes smell terrible, you're likely to smell the difference from inside the cabin right away. Excessive Build-Up of Rust Over time, mufflers are remarkably susceptible to damage from rust. This is because the constant variations in temperature inside the exhaust system generate a great deal of condensation. This water runs out through the exhaust pipes and usually drips from specially placed holes in the bottom of the muffler. So much moisture naturally starts to generate rust, which can eventually ruin the muffler. Falling Fuel Efficiency Faulty mufflers sometimes become clogged up, restricting the outflow of fumes from the engine. This creates a backup of gases, which can prevent sufficient fresh oxygen from entering the engine's cylinders at the front of the vehicle. As a result, the engine will start to lose power and might even misfire and experience several other problems. Rising Engine Temperature One of the worst potential results of a clogged muffler is an overheating engine. This occurs as exhaust fumes become backed up, and the combustion process becomes interrupted, leading to a general build-up of heat. It's never wise to drive for long if you suspect your engine is overheating. Ask Your Acura Service If You Need a New Muffler Mufflers can sometimes be repaired and granted a few more years of effective use, but often they'll also need to be replaced. Ask a trusted technician at your local dealership to service your entire exhaust system and determine whether or not your muffler needs to go. Have your vehicle's muffler checked and repaired or replaced today at Ed Martin Acura. We're an award-winning local dealership providing top-notch vehicles, deals, financing, and customer service.
Transmissions are filled with intricate moving parts that need to be kept in tip-top condition. If you ever allow your car's transmission fluid to degrade or a small gearbox problem to develop, you might end up with a difficult and expensive repair job on your hands. Routine transmission service at your local Acura dealer is the key to keeping your transmission well-maintained. Here's what this service will usually entail. more Flushing the Transmission Fluid Transmission fluid lubricates the bearings, gears, valves, and other moving mechanical parts, helping to reduce friction and heat. The fluid also cleans out debris and contaminants from the gears and maintains hydraulic pressure, which helps the entire system work. Over time, transmission fluid naturally starts to break down in all the heat and friction. As it loses its beneficial qualities, the fluid needs to be flushed out and replaced. When you take your car in for servicing, the old fluid will first be drained. The condition of the drain plug will be checked, and then new fluid will be put into the transmission. It's important to have a technician carry this task out because using the wrong fluid for your vehicle's make and model could cause harm to your gearbox. Replacing the Transmission Filter Dirt, debris, tiny metal fragments, and other contaminants can build up in transmission fluid as it flows through the system. The transmission filter collects this debris, thereby keeping the fluid clean. During routine service, the filter will be checked. If it's too clogged up with dirt and debris, it will be replaced with a new one. Often, the pan will also be checked, and a fresh gasket installed at the same time. Full Transmission Inspection and Clean The most complete service will involve inspecting every part of the transmission carefully for signs of wear, tear, leaks, and other issues. The pan and pan gasket will be cleaned or replaced, and the transmission sump will also be examined. The entire internal system will be inspected for signs of damage or trapped debris, including the planetary gears, torque converter, hydraulic pump, clutches, brakes, valves, bearings, and other parts. Once serviced, the transmission will be tested to ensure it's all in good working order. How Often To Have Your Transmission Checked at Your Acura Dealer It's best to ask a trusted technician how often the transmission of your car requires a routine service visit. Most automatic transmissions need to be serviced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles, whereas manual transmissions typically need servicing more frequently: every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Visit Ed Martin Acura today to have your transmission inspected by courteous, knowledgeable technicians.
