Happy Friday

Some people will drive anything.  Come in and see us if you feel like your car is driving you bananas.  Happy Friday!

Kudos

Congratulations Shottenkirk team for more highly rated reviews!

"great energetic staff. Had a wonderful experience and will enjoy the new Silverado for many years !" - CrazyHawk82 

"Have purchased 3 vehicles from Shottenkirk. Always service them there as well. Treated honestly and fairly." - HSKRFAN

If you would like to see these reviews and others, click here: http://bit.ly/12TOaHy 

2013 Chevrolet Volt Cash Allowance - $4,000 Total Cash

2013 Chevrolet Volt Cash Allowance - $4,000 Total Cash

Not available with finance or lease offers. Take delivery by 07-01-2013. Residency restrictions apply. See dealer for details.

See our event for additional details: http://bit.ly/1b9DO9n

Wacky Wednesday Facts

Here are a couple of wacky Wednesday car facts for your enjoyment!

1. The first cars didn’t have steering wheels. Drivers had to steer with a lever! So basically, it was just like a games console…but REAL! 

2. The first car radio was invented in 1929. What people listened to on long trips before this is beyond me!

What would you do if there wasn’t radio in your car?

Kudos

Congratulations Mike for an excellent review!

"I went in for a oil change and tire rotation. Mike Warne always is happy to see me and always treats me very well. Plus I really like the 2014 Impala you have in your showroom! Nicest Chevrolet ever made, in my opinion!" - Pete F.

If you would like to see this and other reviews, click here: http://bit.ly/13FJAgm 

Chevy Volt Eclipses the Hybrid King

Toyota has long held the top spot when it comes to hybrid gas mileage. Hybrid cars from the likes of Honda and BMW may sport cool lines, but they couldn't beat the mileage that the Prius offered. According to the EPA, the Chevy Volt has now eclipsed the hybrid king with an estimated 60 mpg rating.

The problem with new hybrid or EVs is that the technology behind the cars isn't well known to many consumers. The EPA hopes to sort out the issue by creating fuel economy ratings that represent battery-only, gas-only, or a gas and battery combination. In the case of the Volt, that familiar black and white sticker will say that the car can get 93 miles-per-gallon-equivalent (mpg-e) and 37 mpg from the gas motor.

While these numbers may not top the Leaf's electric-only 99 mpg, the Volt's gasoline engine may sway many car buyers. Chevy has been pushing the fact that the gasoline motor can relieve range anxiety in drivers because there simply isn't a reliable nationwide network of charging stations. If there's no network drivers may stuck within a small radius of their home charging station. In fact, Chevy is so obsessed with the range anxiety issue that they've investigated copyrighting the term.
Another coup for Chevy may be the combination rating of the battery and gasoline engine. The EPA has issued a 60 mpg-e estimate for the combination, a number that tops the 2011 Toyota Prius that gets 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway.

While these are official numbers from the EPA, expect them to change a bit as soon as the general public gets a crack at the American made hybrid. Motor Trend magazine developed a battery of tests for the Volt which resulted in a rating of 127 mpg, or a "freaking amazing" 2.36 gallons of gas for 299 miles. Hypermilers and tuners will no doubt make it their mission to obliterate the magazine's numbers.

-Courtesy of Tainted Green

Weekly Maintenance Tip

Electrical

 

Disconnecting and reconnecting your battery

If you're going to do any work on your car involving the electrical system, disconnect the battery first. To do this, loosen the connector for the negative/ground terminal first, and wiggle the terminal cap off. Use a wire-tie or similar to tie the cable back out of the way. If you need to take the battery out, you can now take off the positive connector.

Why negative then positive? If you disconnect the positive side of the battery first, the negative side is still connected to the entire car. If you drop a tool and it lands on the positive battery terminal and touches anything else on the car, you'll have an electrical short. By disconnecting the negative first, you're cutting off the return path for the current. Now, if a tool drops on to either of the battery terminals, it doesn't matter if it touches part of the chassis or not - there's no continuous path for the electrical current.

Reconnecting your battery. Connect the positive terminal first, and the negative second - the reverse of removal, and for the same reasons. When you slip the negative connector on, there will be a spark as it gets close and makes contact with the negative battery terminal. Don't be afraid of this - it's nothing to worry about. Make sure the terminal caps are done up nice and tight.

Check your battery terminals

Most modern cars run on a 12 volt negative ground electrical system. If your battery terminals or contacts aren't clean, you're making it more difficult for the current to pass around the electrical system. Remove the terminal caps as described above and clean each contact post with a wire brush to get a nice clean metal contact surface. Do the same to the terminal caps, then reattach them as described above.

Courtesy of Carbibles.com