Tag: Tips & Tricks

How to Keep Your Car’s Cabin Clean This Winter

How to Keep Your Car’s Cabin Clean This Winter | Toronto, ON

As beautiful as a blanket of snow looks, that beauty quickly turns to sludge and can make its way into your car. Road salt and snow can wreak havoc on the interior of your vehicle, so it’s important to keep it clean throughout winter. Here are some tips on saving your car’s cabin.

Get rubber floor mats

Some of the best investments that you can make for your car are rubber floor mats. Along with being helpful for protecting your car, they’re also easy to clean! While carpet mats absorb the moisture of rain, sleet, and snow, quality rubber mats are designed to protect your vehicle’s flooring. Try to splurge on mats that are sized specifically for your car so you don’t have anything getting underneath them.

Vacuum often

Even if you try your hardest to keep unwanted debris out of your car, it is inevitable that some stuff will find its way inside. As tedious as it may seem to constantly vacuum your car’s interior, you’ll be saving money as you continue to do so. Road salt is incredibly corrosive and can wear down the interior of your vehicle, resulting in costly repairs.

These are just a couple of ways to keep your car’s cabin clean this winter. For more tips, contact our team at Downtown AutoGroup in Toronto, Ontario.

How to Get Better Gas Mileage This Winter

How to Get Better Gas Mileage This Winter | Toronto, ON

Whether you have noticed or not, your vehicle uses more fuel during the winter. Due to the weather conditions being tougher to drive through, your car must work harder and — as a result — use more gas. But there are ways to get better gas mileage this winter.

Stop idling to warm up

Although it may seem like a good idea to start your car and let it sit to warm up, you’re actually wasting gas that way. Instead, simply driving your vehicle is a better way to heat things up in the cabin and be on the way to your destination, thus saving gas.

Check the tires

When your car’s tires aren’t properly inflated, they’re not performing at their peak. Be sure that they’re not underinflated or overinflated by checking the PSI. Check the owner’s manual for your vehicle, or look at the driver’s door jamb, to find the correct PSI for the tires. Keep an eye on tread depth, too, and have the tires replaced if needed.

Consider a block heater

If the temperatures drop immensely to below freezing, your vehicle’s engine may need some assistance just to start. A block heater is a device that will warm up the engine ahead of time while reducing fuel consumption.

If you notice any issues with your vehicle this winter, contact our team at Downtown AutoGroup in Toronto, Ontario, for assistance.

What to Do If Your Car Is Overheating This Summer

What to Do If Your Car Is Overheating This Summer | DAG | Toronto, ON

As the temperatures rise, so do the chances that your car will overheat this summer. If you find your car overheating, here are some steps you can take to ensure you reduce the amount of damage a hot engine can do.

Blast your heater

When you notice that your engine is starting to get too hot, immediately turn on your heater, even if it’s hot outside. Doing so helps drains heat from the engine, buying you time to find a safe place to pull over.

Pull over

Look for a safe place well off the road to stop and turn off your car’s engine.

Let the engine cool

Engines typically take at least a half hour to an hour to cool down. In that time, you should call for roadside assistance to get a tow truck, if you think you need one.

Lift the hood — safely

Once you’re stopped, you can lift the hood to see what’s going on — but wait until the engine temperature gauge goes back to normal and there’s no steam coming out. Don’t remove the hot radiator cap, because it might cause coolant and steam to erupt from the radiator and burn your hands. Also, don’t add cold water to an overheated engine because it can cause damage.

Check your coolant

Under your hood, there should be a translucent plastic tank located under the hood near the radiator. If it’s empty, then you might have a leak.

If you’re experiencing any problems with overheating, we’re here to help at Downtown AutoGroup in Toronto. Our service department will check your vehicle carefully and make sure that the problem is fixed so you can be on your way.

3 Tips for Driving Safely in Hot Weather

Driving Safely in Hot Weather | Toronto, ON

Summer’s high temperatures can affect conditions on the road and under your hood. That’s why Downtown Autogroup has put together these tips for driving safely in hot weather.

Keep an eye on your fluids. Your vehicle needs various types of fluids to run, and it’s a good idea to make sure they’re at the recommended levels before the weather gets too hot. Fluids to check include your coolant, motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power-steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid.

Check your battery. Make sure your battery is in tip-top condition, since high temperatures can affect the way it works. Get a test to see if your battery is performance well, and, if your battery is too old, consider replacing it.

Remember, interior temperatures heat up fast. When it’s hot out, the interior of your car will get hot, too. Because of this, it’s important to remember some child safety tips along with driving safety. Don’t leave children in the car for any reason, even with the windows down. Also, teach your children not to play in, on, or around vehicles. Finally, make sure you check the temperature of your child’s car seat before you put them in the vehicle. If the seat is too hot, it can harm your child’s skin.

Need help prepping your vehicle for summer? Get in touch with one of our service departments at the Downtown Autogroup in Toronto.

Should You Fix or Replace Your Old Car?

Should You Fix or Replace Your Old Car | Toronto, ON

Sometimes, our tried-and-true older vehicles let us down. If you’ve found yourself on the side of the road with a breakdown, you’re faced with a big decision: Should you fix or replace your old car? Here, we look at the pros and cons of each to help you with your decision.

Fix It

The sentimental attachment you have to your old vehicle is one of the biggest pros of fixing it — you will get to keep a car that you love, even if you have to give it a bit of love to keep it running smoothly.

If you fix up your new car, you will also likely spend less money than you would if you replace one, since bills to fix your vehicle are usually lower than the cost of a replacement car.

Replace It

Replacing your old car means you won’t have to worry about future breakdowns. While a newer vehicle breaking down isn’t unheard of, the likelihood is far lower than it would be with your older vehicle.  

Sometimes, your old car’s mechanical issues can cost more than you expected. That repair price of $3,000 to $5,000 or more could easily be a down payment on a newer and better car instead.   

Buying used is a great option for replacing your old car. With a pre-owned vehicle, you won’t have to worry about your car losing a big chunk of its value in the first year. Plus, you can still get new technologies, premium appointments, and more.

If you’re ready to bid farewell to your old ride, stop in at a Downtown Autogroup location and check out our wide selection of outstanding used vehicles.

3 Summer Car Care Tips

Summer car care tips | Downtown Autogroup | Toronto, ON

The weather might be milder in the summer, but your car can still take a beating when the temperature rises. During the warmer months, it’s still important to keep your car running smoothly. Here are some summer car care tips to help your car stay in tip-top shape this summer.

1. Check your coolant system and air conditioning

No one likes being hot during the summer, so make sure your coolant system and air conditioning are working well. Check your car’s coolant levels and get the system’s hoses and the coolant reservoir checked out here at Downtown Autogroup. Also, make sure your air-conditioning system isn’t leaking. These steps will ensure both you and your car’s engine stay cool in hot weather.

2. Change your windshield wipers

Rain happens all year round in Toronto, which means your windshield wipers are paramount to your safety. Make sure they’re in tip-top condition, checking for cracks in the rubber and any streaks when they’re in use.

3. Protect your dashboard

The sun’s damaging rays can really do a number on your car’s interior, not only heating it up but also causing ultraviolet damage to your dashboard’s upholstery. Use a sunshade to protect your car’s dashboard and keep its interior temperature a bit cooler so you won’t have to endure a sweltering interior when you get in.

For more information on Summer car tips or to schedule service, visit one of our great dealerships as a part of the Downtown Autogroup.