Posted on 1/1/2023
Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash The New Year is all about fresh starts. We set goals, targets, and resolutions in hopes of the New Year, New Me thing paying off in our lives. But what about your car? Do you remember the last time you got preventive maintenance? Your oil changed, your tires rotated, your fluids flushed? For car owners and vehicle enthusiasts, now is the perfect time to give your vehicle a fresh start. You can start 2023 off right with preventative maintenance services and then schedule maintenance into your calendar–-and it actually might save you money! What Is Preventative Maintenance? Preventative maintenance is crucial for ensuring the proper functioning of a vehicle. This type of maintenance involves regularly scheduled checks and services that are designed to prevent problems before they occur. By performing preventative maintenance, you can ... read more
Posted on 12/1/2022
Photo by Jefferson Sees on Unsplash Are you headed over the river and through the woods to grandma's house this holiday season? Knowing where to start when packing for a road trip takes a lot of work. You've got clothes and toiletries to pack, plus snacks and other essentials. That's why it's crucial to think about how you will organize everything before throwing things into your trunk. I've found some tricks of the trade that help me get more stuff in my car when I travel! Pack strategically in layers. You can maximize space in your trunk by strategically packing in layers. First, pack heavier items on the bottom and lighter ones on top (this will prevent your things from being crushed). Second, use smaller plastic bags within your bags, so you don’t have to dig through your stuff to find anything. I’ll usually put an enti ... read more
Posted on 10/1/2022
Photo by Gabby Orcutt on Unsplash Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve, is a holiday celebrated on October 31. It's most commonly known as the day before All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Many people celebrate Halloween by going trick-or-treating, dressing up in costumes, and having parties. But did you know that the origins of this ancient tradition have nothing to do with candy or children? In this article, we'll explore the history of Halloween and how it became such an essential part of our culture today. The History of Halloween As early as the fourth century A.D., Christians in Ireland celebrated All Saints Day (November 1st) and All Souls Day (November 2nd) by lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off evil spirits. Later, they began adding other traditions like dressing up as ghouls or ghosts and carving turnips into lanterns so that people co ... read more
Posted on 9/1/2022
Photo by Nina Mercado on Unsplash Mastering Your Car With Preventative Maintenance Your vehicle is an investment, and you should treat it as such. However, it can be challenging to know where to start if you’ve been hot and cold on your vehicle maintenance. In this article, I'll discuss the benefits of preventative maintenance and give you three things to start with when you begin your dedicated maintenance plan. Check your fluids. The fluids in your vehicle are essential for your car's functioning! They need to be changed, flushed and checked at regular intervals. To begin preventative maintenance, I suggest constantly checking your oil, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. These three things are easy to check and will give you a better picture of how far gone your vehicle is. Oil change Oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle. It lubricate ... read more
Posted on 7/31/2022
Photo by Deleece Cook on Unsplash If you know us here at Premier Auto Service Center, you know that back-to-school season is a complicated and wonderful time. The shop is often busy with parents and students carrying fresh school supplies, breaking in their new gym shoes, and preparing themselves for the new school year. It’s also a great time to share one of our why we started building this business. Each year, Premier Auto Service Center gives to several local schools. We started giving to the local schools because we noticed that each teacher would have a list of items they needed for the school year during the open house. Halfway through the school year, there was always a new list. We decided to make sure we could help the teachers get supplies to help the students. The Barbara Jamison Scholarship, which benefits Oasis High School senior students getting ready fo ... read more
Posted on 6/30/2022
Looking After Your Car in the Florida Heat Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash This Cape Coral heat is something else this Summer, isn’t it? While we can take a nice dip in the pool or enjoy a frozen treat to cool down, our cars often have to adjust to the rising temperature in less enjoyable ways. If your vehicle isn’t ultimately able to adjust, your AC, radiator, battery, and tires may be taking some punches. This is especially true if you’re using your vacation time to take some road trips or travel SW Florida! What To Watch Out For In The Heat When it starts to get hotter and you’re heading out on more and more road trips, your vehicle is going to feel a little different. However, there are some big red flags you sh ... read more
Posted on 6/1/2022
Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash Day Trips in SW Florida! The busy season is here, Cape Coral! During their summer vacations, people flock to our state to see the beautiful sights and enjoy all there is to do here. Though we get to live here 365, it’s still nice to get out and enjoy what SW Florida has to offer. The awesome news is that you don’t need a week's vacation to enjoy Florida! There are dozens of places you can visit over the weekend or even just for a day. Here are a few of our faves: Big Cypress National Preserve. The Big Cypress National Preserve has beautiful tropical sites and hiking trails for the nature lover. If you have a little extra time, you can even camp here. (Just 1 hour and 22 minutes from Cape Coral!) Ave Maria. For the historical lover, go check out Ava Maria! The architecture is gorgeous, and you’ll fi ... read more
Posted on 5/1/2022
Photo by Nicolai Bernsten on Unsplash Lucky By Design There’s a 1966 Volvo P1800S with over 3 million miles on it. (Seriously, it’s a wild story, check out this video on YouTube!) Most people can expect (or hope) for their cars to last around 200,000 miles. However, you’ll find people on both sides of this spectrum: some have had cars die out with less than 50,000 miles, and others will tell you that their car lasted for triple that. But why? What’s the determining factor in car longevity? Is it luck by design or our responsibility as car owners? There are definitely things we can do to ensure the longevity of our vehicles. Namely, we can: Schedule preventive maintenance. Make sure to get your oil changed, tires rotated, and brakes checked frequently. Replace parts when neede ... read more
Posted on 3/31/2022
Photo by jwvein on Pixabay The Tale of Off-Road Ron We’ll begin this post with the cautionary Tale of Off-Road Ron. Like most of us, Off-Road Ron enjoys a day trip with a scenic drive and showing off the features of his vehicle. He’s the kind of guy that doesn’t swerve for potholes, floors it over speedbumps, and likes to go off-roading. Off-Road Ron sure has a lot of fun, but he’s in the auto shop every other week and has gone through quite a few good vehicles. Off-Roading Has Long-Term Effects for Your Vehicle Some might call Ron a dare-devil, and some say he’s irresponsible. We’ll agree he’s a little bit of both. As fun as off-roading is, pushing your vehicle to its limits can have some severe consequences. Not looking out for potholes, speedbumps, or rocky driving conditions can lead to a few severe issues in your vehicle ... read more
Posted on 2/1/2022
Photo by Shutterbug75 on Pixabay Did you know that feral animals and rodents can do a lot of damage to engines? The worst damage they can do is chew the electrical wiring system, but they can chew on other things as well, such as cabin filters, air filters, and the under-hood insulation, to name a few. They hit hardest in winter when the cold hits them the hardest but will try and make a nest any time during the year. Climbing into a just-used warm car chassis must be inviting for cold critters. A vehicle left unused is a great place for a rodent to find a way to make a home. In this case the vehicle is just a safe, dry place to make a home. The offenders we see the most in Cape Coral are field mice. These murid rodents can seriously cripple an engine if left unchecked. People turn to many different methods in the hope of deterring pests from nibbling at their cars. There are spr ... read more