Avoiding Tire Problems Out on the Road

Tire problems can seriously dampen any plans of fun adventures. Here are a few tire tips to help keep you safe and on the road no matter where you are going.

Yearly Maintenance Breakdown

Let’s face it, life gets busy. It is hard not to get stuck in the fastlane in this busy life of ours. For that reason, it is an incredible help to have reminders and easy charts to view to help us remember to take care of the vital things in our life. That is why we’re posting an easy to see maintenance checklist for your vehicle. When life gets crazy, things like your vehicle take a backseat and necessary maintenance can get pushed back. Well, here’s a handy maintenance timeline to show you what on your vehicle needs to be checked or changed and at what time-frame. Let’s get to it!

Dashboard Warning Lights: What Do They Mean? - Part II

Warning lights are normally a real downer. Nobody likes seeing a warning light turn on while driving. They can be a real headache to try to understand and diagnose. Here’s another quick guide to help walk you through the meaning for some of the most common warning lights and what you should do next to remedy the situation.

Check Engine Light

What it means: something in your vehicle’s system is not working properly. Common culprits are the gas cap, fuel or emission controls, or the ignition system.

Next steps: first tighten your gas cap. If the light remains on, seek professional help to help diagnose the source of your check engine light problem.

Dashboard Warning Lights: What Do They Mean?

Have you ever been driving and notice one of your dashboard warning lights turn on? What does it mean? What should you do next? Well, here’s a quick guide to help walk you through the meaning for some of the most common warning lights and what you should do next to remedy the situation.

Battery Warning Light

What it means: battery voltage is low and/or the charging system is not working properly.

Next steps: check the battery, battery terminals, and alternator belt. Seek professional help if needed.

Make Your Battery Last

With all the technology and gadgets manufacturers add to cars nowadays, there is one vital part that keeps everything running: the battery. Without the car battery, a car wouldn’t work. From lights to spark plugs, everything is depending on the battery to give them the power to perform properly. Maximizing the life of your car battery helps both the health of your vehicle and your wallet. Here are the biggest factors that hurt the life of your battery.

Traveling with a Pet

Are you planning on traveling with a dog this year? Here are some vital tips to keep your dog and your vehicle safe on the road this season.

How to Test Your Motor Oil

Here’s a cool trick to visually test your oil to see if it still has more miles left in the tank or if it is need of a change.

First, make sure your vehicle has been parked for several hours and that the engine is cool. Next, pop your hood and pull the oil dipstick out. Then dab some of the oil from the dipstick and onto your index finger or thumb. Rub the oil between your index finger and thumb and make note of how it feels. If the oil feels dirty/gritty and the oil has a dark color, then it is probably time for an oil change. If the oil is smoother and is not as gritty, then you are still good to go. After you are finished testing, make sure to thoroughly wash off the oil from your fingers. As you are testing, don’t forget to check your oil level, make sure it is full and ready for driving action.

If your oil fails this test, then bring your vehicle over to your nearest Jiffy Lube Columbia for a quick Jiffy Lube Signature Service Oil Change. No appointment and no worry, just pull on up and one of our certified technicians will take quality care of your vehicle.

CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF LOCATIONS

Photo Credit: "Robert Couse-Baker"