Roesbery Car Care

Tune in to Channel 5 tonight at 5/6 o'clock to see our very own, Mike Roesbery, talk about how the recent cold weather could be affecting your vehicle. Lookin' good, Mike!

Tune in to Channel 5 tonight at 5/6 o'clock to see our very own, Mike Roesbery, talk about how the recent cold weather could be affecting your vehicle. Lookin' good, Mike!

Come on in and bring your car, truck, suv or even your bus and let us get you ready for summer! Call us today at 925-778-6316!

Come on in and bring your car, truck, suv or even your bus and let us get you ready for summer! Call us today at 925-778-6316!

Tip of the Day: If you get your car smog tested and its ABS light comes on while you’re driving home, don’t be alarmedit’s a normal after-effect and should go ...away after two or three miles. This happens because your vehicle is on a dynamometer during the smog test, which means its internal computer notices only one set of tires is spinning and thinks there’s a problem. See more

Tip of the Day: If you get your car smog tested and its ABS light comes on while you’re driving home, don’t be alarmedit’s a normal after-effect and should go ...away after two or three miles. This happens because your vehicle is on a dynamometer during the smog test, which means its internal computer notices only one set of tires is spinning and thinks there’s a problem. See more

Tune in to Channel 5 tonight at 5/6 o'clock to see our very own, Mike Roesbery, talk about how the recent cold weather could be affecting your vehicle. Lookin' good, Mike!

Six Vehicle Warning Signs Your Nose Can Recognize Smell Test - Most vehicles start out with a new car smell, but there are other specific odors that motorists should never ignore. Identifying these suspect smells early on can help car owners be car care aware and avoid the hassle and expense of an unexpected breakdown, says the Car Care Council. Unusual smells can be the sign of serious, and potentially costly, trouble for your vehicle. By acting quickly and making necessa...ry repairs, you’ll be able to breathe easy knowing there is no harmful damage to your car, said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. The Car Care Council recommends a sniff test of your vehicle to identify any unusual smells, including the following six warning signs: 1. The smell of burnt rubber could be slipping drive belts or misplaced loose hoses that might be rubbing against rotating accessory drive pulleys. Do not reach in if the engine compartment is hot. 2. The smell of hot oil could mean that oil is leaking onto the exhaust system. To verify the leak, look for oil on the pavement or smoke coming from the engine area. 3. The smell of gasoline is likely the sign of a gas leak in some area of the vehicle such as a fuel injector line or the fuel tank. Any smell of fuel can result in a possible fire hazard, so immediate attention should be given. 4. The sweet smell of syrup may be a sign that your car is leaking engine coolant from a leaky component related to the car’s cooling system. Do not open the radiator cap when it is hot. 5. The smell of burning carpet could be a sign of brake trouble and a safety hazard. Have your brakes checked right away, especially if this smell is happening during normal driving conditions. 6. The smell of rotten eggs is never a good one and, if you smell it coming from your vehicle, it could mean a problem with your catalytic converter not converting the hydrogen sulfide in the exhaust to sulfur dioxide properly. This smell can also be attributed to a poor running engine, causing the catalytic converter to become overloaded and fail due to meltdown. When you smell any peculiar odor, you should not ignore it. Instead bring your vehicle to a professional service technician that you trust to get an informed opinion on the nature of the odor, concluded White.

Come on in and bring your car, truck, suv or even your bus and let us get you ready for summer! Call us today at 925-778-6316!

Need a suggestion for a Mother's Day gift? How about spending some quality time with her on a nice drive up in wine country... like this guy did... http://www.youtube.com/watch

http://jalopnik.com//eight-ways-automakers-make-cars-obsol

Hi Friends! The holidays are upon us and for a lot of us that means lots of traveling. Give us a call and schedule an oil change and inspection for only $25.99 + tax and make sure your car is fully prepared for your holiday adventures! *** Call us at 925-778-6316 or email [email protected] before 12/31/12 for the special offer!

Tip of the Day: If you get your car smog tested and its ABS light comes on while you’re driving home, don’t be alarmedit’s a normal after-effect and should go ...away after two or three miles. This happens because your vehicle is on a dynamometer during the smog test, which means its internal computer notices only one set of tires is spinning and thinks there’s a problem. See more

Who knew being really good at a video game would give you the opportunity to become a real pro racing driver?! Man, I think it's time to fire up the Playstation! http://www.autoblog.com//nissan-and-playstation-preview-s/

Has anyone taken a family trip to Disneyland and wished the drive wasn't so long? Maybe you should go out and buy one of these... you might be able to cut your drive time in half! http://www.autoblog.com//toyota-readies-dragquoia-sequoia/

With rain in the forecast for most of the week, here's an article from driverside.com that I highly recommend everyone read so we can all be safe out on the roa...d! 7 Ways to Prevent Car Accidents Did you know that nearly 90 percent of crashes are due to human error? None of us plan on leaving the house, getting behind the wheel, and ending up in a car accident, but they can happen to even the most vigilant of drivers. There are certainly some situations that are unavoidable, no matter what you do. However, there are a few ways that you can limit your exposure to potential harm. Here are seven ways to improve your chances on the road. *** Stay alert. *** As easy as it is to do, you should never switch to auto pilot while driving. That’s a surefire way to slow your response time and decrease awareness. Keep your attention focused on the road ahead and the vehicles around you so your brain can analyze and prepare for any dangerous situations. This also means that driving drowsy is a big no-no. Studies have shown that sleepy drivers are twice as likely to cause an accident than non-drowsy ones. Your risk of an accident while driving tired is similar to that when driving while intoxicated. If your eyelids start drooping, pull off the road and either take a nap or grab some caffeine. Be aware, however, that caffeine takes a while to be effective and it eventually wears off. There’s no substitute for sleep in the long run. *** Avoid Distractions. *** Eating, using your phone, and spending too much time checking in on children in the back seat are all distractions that make you lose focus on the road ahead. It may feel like you’re losing time if you have to stop to grab lunch, make a call, or sort out your squabbling kids in the back, but it’ll mean that you’ll be a safer driver when you get back on the road. Though texting while driving isn’t illegal in every state, studies have shown that response times while texting or reading text messages are severely delayed. If you need to communicate while on the road, make a small investment in a Bluetooth device. *** Create a buffer zone. *** Leaving space in front of the car ahead allows time for braking should the situation demand it. The general rule of thumb is a car length for every 10 miles an hour. Going 60? Try to keep six car lengths distance between you and the vehicle in front. This also aids in setting up an escape route. You need to be ready for a dangerous situation to occur anywhere on the road, which means you need to have an empty space to steer into. If the cars in front and behind you are getting uncomfortably close, strategically line up with an empty space to the side. This allows you to have a place to steer your vehicle into. *** Keep your hands on the wheel. *** It’s easy, especially when driving along boring stretches of road or in stop-and-go traffic, to forget that your hands should be on the steering wheel at all times. How else are you going to avoid potential collisions. *** Adapt your driving to weather conditions. *** Use proper judgment during bad weather. If your vision is limited by fog, you’ll need extra time to perform emergency maneuvers. When the ground is wet, your tires will take longer to bring you to a stop. Make sure you have more room than usual between you and the car in front. *** Communicate with others. *** Using your turn signals or hand signals is an easy way to tell other drivers what move you’re planning to make. You can create a dangerous situation by maneuvering your vehicle unexpectedly, so tap your indicators well before you intend on turning or changing lanes it’s not just safe, it’s good manners too. When merging in front of a big-rig at night, signal and then wait for the driver to flash the headlights in approval. By communicating to other drivers your intention, they can adjust their driving to accommodate you. Waving thanks goes a long way as well. *** ...But don’t depend on them to do the same. *** A good defensive driver knows that other drivers can be unpredictable. Watch for erratic driving from the people around you and avoid any vehicle that drifts across lanes, doesn’t signal, or has difficulty maintaining a steady speed.

Four Ways to Prepare for Upcoming Holiday Road Trips! The weather’s cooling and bears are heading for their comfy hibernation caves. But not us; we’re gearing u...p for the busiest travel days of the year: Holiday weekends. And that means it’s time to get your car ready for colder weather and more miles on the odometer. Whether you’re headed south for the sun or through the back roads to grandma’s house, there are a few things you can do before you pack up the car to keep your focus on the journey ahead. A little preparation now can save you lots of time and money later, keep you off the side of the road and help you avoid unknown auto shops. *** Get up to date on regular maintenance *** Whether your trip is 100 miles down the road or 1,000, it will pay to get your car up to speed on all of its regular maintenance. That means taking care of any fluids that may have been neglected while you were out enjoying the summer sun. Check, change and/or top off your oil, coolant, brake and transmission fluid as needed. In the case of your oil or automatic transmission, make sure you get a high-quality filter, too. It may seem like overkill to take care of all of your fluids at once, but it’s worth it in the long run. Take a look at the car’s brakes, too. Are your rotors warped or cracked? Do they have deep grooves or are the pads worn close to their minimum clearance? Your vehicle will be experiencing harsh conditions for much longer than your daily commute to and from work, so once again it’ll pay to nip any potential problems in the bud now. These next two are easy-to-do items that can make a big difference on a long drive. First, make sure all your lights are working properly. A burnt-out bulb is a great way to get a visit from the local police department while you’re on a trip. New bulbs are inexpensive and are usually easy to install. The same goes for windshield wipers. If your blades are more than six months old, odds are it’s time to swap them out for new ones. Bad windshield wipers can make driving in the rain in a foreign land a nightmare. *** Protect the interior *** You can’t discount the impact weather and a long road trip can have on your vehicle either. If you’re going to spend a lot of time ducking in and out of the elements, you might want to grab some all-weather floor mats. They’re easy to clean and do a great job of keeping the muck in one place. It might seem counterintuitive to clean the inside of your car before you hit the road, but give it a chance. Pulling out any and all unnecessary items from the trunk and backseat will help with your vehicle’s fuel economy and make room for all the suitcases (and leftovers to munch on during the return trip). Making sure your windows are clean will also improve your visibility and reduce the likelihood of steamy glass. Remember, greater visibility reduces your chance of bumping someone in traffic, and nothing ruins a vacation quicker than an accident. *** Don’t drive on the wrong tires *** Go ahead and have your tires rotated and inspected, too. The last thing you need is to head off into the sunset on bald or dry rotted tires, especially if rain is forecasted. Err on the side of caution and replace any tires that look suspect. Again, it may seem expensive at the time, but we guarantee it’ll be cheaper than having to get someone to tow your car to a garage in the middle of the night for new rubber. Once you’ve made sure everything looks good, take a look at your tire pressure. With everything up to spec, you’ll get better gas mileage and your vehicle will handle and stop better. Are you headed to snowy locales? We’d recommend looking into snow tires. It depends on how long you’ll be braving the elements, but for long distances in the snow, putting winter tires on your wheels instead of chains might be a lot more comfortable for you and your family. Winter tires are made with special low temperature resilient rubber compounds and have deep treads that grip unplowed snow and ice. Even the best all-season tires have compounds that get more brittle as the temperature drops, and when that happens, the tires tend to grip less. The winter tire compound remains pliable when temperatures are low, retaining grip and keeping the car’s safety systems, like all-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes, functioning properly. *** Maintain the coolant system *** Our most important tip is to take the time to get your car’s coolant system checked. Extreme temperatures and harsh conditions can knock it out easily if it’s not up to snuff. If any part of the system comes up with a shaky bill of health, swap the parts for new ones. That means having your car’s radiator pressure tested and your hoses examined for cracks or bulges. Most shops can quickly test radiators without the hassle of having to remove them from the vehicle. If you can’t remember the last time your water pump was replaced, or if your pump has more miles on it than what the manufacturer recommends, it’s time for a new one. While everything is apart, go for a new thermostat as well because you’ll save money on labor getting those two done at once. Even if everything comes up good to go under the hood, replacing your engine’s coolant is cheap insurance against extreme temperatures. Over time, antifreeze can actually generate a weak electrical current, which can then cause oxidation and eventually failure inside of your coolant system. Keeping everything fresh inside will put less stress on your vehicle’s hardware and save you serious money in the long run. This content was provided by DriverSide.