The Importance of Windshield Glass
Windshield glass damage is incredibly common. In fact, windshields make up the majority of auto insurance claims in the United States. But while windshield glass chips and cracks can seem like no big deal, it’s actually incredibly important to repair them. Let’s take a look at why you should always get a crack or chip repaired immediately.
Why You Should Always Repair Damage Windshield Glass
Avoid traffic tickets
Certain chips and cracks in the windshield can warrant a traffic ticket. This will end up being an additional cost on top of what you’ll need to pay for windshield repair or replacement.
Avoid greater costs down the road
While chip or crack repair is often inexpensive, this often isn’t the case when it comes to more intensive repair or replacement. The fact of the matter is, small and seemingly harmless chips and cracks often spread over time.
The longer you wait to repair it, the more expensive it may end up being. You’ll want to repair versus replace whenever possible. Your wallet will thank you!
Maintain clear vision of the road
Safety starts with awareness on the road. And it’s hard to be fully aware of your surroundings when a chip or crack is impeding your line of vision. Even if the damage seems small, it can possibly lead to a dangerous blind spot. Don’t put your passengers in danger by ignoring easily avoidable risks.
Absorb the impact on the airbags
Windshields are essential to absorbing the impact of an auto accident. This directly affects the front seat airbags. Without the windshield properly absorbing the impact on the passenger airbags, the airbags may not work properly or effectively.
Avoid the possibility of passenger ejection
Windshields help protect passengers from outside forces, and this is especially true in severe car accident cases. A compromised buffer can lead to passengers being ejected from the vehicle through the windshield. This could potentially turn car crash injuries into car crash fatalities.
Get Your Windshield Inspected and Repaired in Madison, WI
The expert service technicians at Zimbrick Automotive can help to identify and repair or replace windshield damage. Learn more about our auto body services, and schedule an appointment today.
Learn more essential auto maintenance and repair information with these resources:
Your Fall Car Service Checklist
It’s common for people to delay routine maintenance for their car. But car maintenance is essential for the health and longevity as well as the safety of the passengers. This is especially true when the seasons change, as road conditions and vehicle upkeep needs shift with the weather.
Get ready for the fall by checking off the maintenance items on our list below. At Zimbrick, we cover all the vehicle components you should have inspected and serviced.
10 Essential Fall Auto Maintenance Services
Cooling system
Drops in temperatures can affect the components of your car’s cooling system. Have a mechanic take a look at the radiator, coolant, belts, hoses, cooling fans, heater core, and water pump.
Tire inspection
Having the traction and tire pressure you need to handle potentially inclement weather and difficult road conditions is essential. Get your tire pressure checked and your tires rotated. You’ll also want to have your tires checked for any repair or replacement needs.
Fluids
Make sure the radiator has the right amount of of antifreeze and water. Without the right balance, the water can freeze. You’ll also want to make sure you have the other fluids your vehicle needs to run properly, including windshield cleaning fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid.
Oil
Oil changes are needed on a regular basis, and it makes sense to get this taken care of while you’re completing the other items on this checklist.
Heaters, defrosters, windshield wipers
For rain, you’ll want properly working windshield wipers. And heaters and defrosters are needed when it comes to snow or freezing weather.
Battery
Nothing is worse than waking up on a cold morning to discover your car’s battery isn’t working. Don’t let this happen — get your battery tested in the fall, and get it replaced if needed.
Emergency kit
You’ll want to be prepared in case weather conditions necessitate any emergency measures. Check to make sure you have an emergency kit easily accessible in the vehicle. If you already have one, double check to make sure it’s stocked up.
Lights
With the sun going down earlier, you’ll want to have working lights to keep you and other drivers on the road safe.
Tune-up
Getting an overall tune-up on your car is important before winter. Fall is the perfect time to get this taken care of, in case inclement weather comes early.
Schedule Fall Car Care Service in Madison, WI
Zimbrick Automotive’s team of expert technicians can handle all of your fall car service needs. Schedule service in Madison, Wisconsin, today.
Purchasing a new car can be exciting. It may also be just a little bit daunting if you don’t know where to begin. After all, the choice you make will have big implications for your family life, not just financially but also in terms of day-to-day logistics. Naturally, you want to make sure you select a vehicle that fits your budget as well as your lifestyle.
That requires a little bit of self-inventory on the front end. Before you arrive at the dealership to look at new cars for sale, spend just a little time brainstorming about your needs and wants. To guide the process, we’ve put together a quick list of questions to ask yourself.
What to Ask Before Visiting the Dealership
What are your top priorities?
Start by creating a list of the things you’re not willing to compromise on, then perhaps a list of the areas where you may be a little more flexible. For example, you might not need a sunroof, but maybe you do need a vehicle that comfortably seats six, or a vehicle with good fuel economy, etc.
It’s always good to have a clear sense of what’s mission-critical, and what’s not.
What best meets your needs and priorities?
You may have your heart set on a particular make and model, but it’s smart to research comparable cars that might be just as good. Come to the dealership with two or three that you’d like to test drive.
How are you going to pay?
If you have cash on hand to buy a new car outright, that’s great. If not, you may want to start investigating financing options. This can give you a clearer sense of how much car you can actually afford. And, of course, there’s always leasing.
What does your budget look like?
Along the same lines, make sure you calculate how much wiggle room you have in your monthly budget for auto expenses — including not just loan payments but gas, insurance, maintenance, and upkeep, too.
How long are you planning to drive your next car?
Is this a car your kids will be driving? Will you need it when they leave for college? Perhaps this a car your family will be driving for the next five years. You may have car seats or booster seats now, but you’ll be hauling around kids’ sports equipment before you know it.
What will you do with your current vehicle?
If you have a car that you’d like to trade in, that can change the financial calculus for you just a little. Use a resource like Kelley Blue Book to estimate how much you’ll get for your trade-in.
Ask the Right Questions in Madison, WI
By asking yourself these questions before visiting our new or used car dealership, you can prepare yourself for a smooth, informed car shopping experience. To start seeing new cars for sale in Madison, Wisconsin, contact Zimbrick Automotive today.
Who’s ready for football season? Not so fast. You may have your season tickets purchased, your fridge stocked with refreshments, and all your favorite team’s merch ready to be worn. You’re not truly ready for football season, though, until your car is fully stocked with tailgating essentials.
In this post, we’ll outline all the things we think are necessary for a complete tailgating kit. Assemble these supplies, stash them in your vehicle, and let the games begin.
Putting Together a Tailgate Kit for Your Car
Here’s our tailgating checklist:
Dinnerware
It might seem obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many enthusiastic tailgaters forget basics like plates, napkins, cups, and disposable cutlery. It’s a little embarrassing to have to walk around to other tailgaters to ask if they can loan you the fundamentals, so make sure you’ve got a robust supply.
Grilling tools
Planning on some game day grilling? You’ll want to make sure you have tongs, a spatula, a cutting board, and of course, some basic seasonings for your meat.
Cleaning supplies
You don’t want to leave your tailgating site a total mess, nor do you want your car to become a rolling dumpster. Bring some baggies for leftover food and some big garbage bags for disposing of waste. We also recommend having a roll or two of aluminum foil, which can be useful in several ways: wrapping up leftovers, wrapping dirty utensils, and more.
Drinks
We’ll leave it to you to decide what kinds of bottled waters, sodas, or other beverages you want to bring to the tailgating party. All we’ll say is it’s worth investing in a really good cooler. And don’t forget bottle openers and cozies.
Seating
Finally, you’re probably going to want to have some options for when you sit down to eat, whether that’s camping chairs, a picnic blanket, a pop-up awning, or some combination of the above.
Get Ready for Tailgating Season in Madison, WI
There’s your checklist for tailgating season. Just one more thing: If you need a new vehicle to haul this stuff, check out our inventory of cars for sale in Madison, Wisconsin, today. Contact Zimbrick Automotive to set up some test drives.
When to Replace Your Vehicle’s Belts
One of the key aspects of responsible vehicle ownership is preventative maintenance. The basic idea is that you stay on top of all your automotive service and repair needs, addressing issues preemptively, before they spiral into much larger problems. One of the critical steps in preventative maintenance is having your vehicle’s belts replaced.
Why Are Your Car’s Belts So Important?
There are two belts you need to be familiar with when talking about car maintenance — the serpentine belt and the timing belt.
The serpentine belt winds through your engine and carries power to several key components, including the alternator, air conditioning, and power steering pump. In some cars, the serpentine belt is also connected to the water pump.
The timing belt, meanwhile, synchronizes the actions of your camshaft and crankshaft. What that means is that it keeps all your engine valves working harmoniously, and it ensures that your engine functions as intended.
Maintaining the serpentine belts and fan belts in your car is vitally important to the overall health of your vehicle. Should any of these belts fail, it could result in extreme damage to your engine, your alternator, and your power steering pump. In other words, failure to have your belts replaced in a timely manner could result in much more onerous and expensive repair needs.
When to Replace Your Belts
As for when you need to replace these belts, there’s no hard-and-fast rule. It varies depending on the vehicle and the conditions under which you drive. As a rule of thumb, the timing belt in a newer vehicle will usually last 100,000 miles or so, and the serpentine belt will last around 90,000 to 100,000. However, it’s good to have your engine inspected regularly, and to follow your technician’s advice about when to have those belts replaced.
You can also be alert to some common red flags for belt failure. Some of these include:
- Squealing noises from the front of your vehicle
- Failure of your AC or power steering
- Engine overheating
- Visible cracks/wear on your belts
Stay Up to Date With Car Maintenance in Madison, WI
Keep an eye on those belts and you can potentially avoid some much more complicated problems down the road. To schedule service at a Zimbrick Automotive service center, we invite you to contact us today.
5 Fun Games to Play on Summer Road Trips
Have you made your vehicle adventure-ready? Do you have the kids all primed for a summertime expedition? The road trip is a great American tradition, and it can be a priceless way to see the country, explore some new sights, and of course, spend quality time with your loved ones.
There’s just one problem: potential boredom. For as exciting as it can be to see plains and vistas fly by your window, you’ll also have some long stretches of highway where there aren’t many sights worthy of note. It’s enough to make anyone feel restless — little ones in particular.
Thankfully, there are plenty of classic road trip games that can keep everyone’s minds occupied. Here are a few of our favorites.
5 Games to Keep Your Road Trip Entertaining
The name game
Talk about a classic. Here’s how it works: One player picks a name that starts with the letter A — Arnold, for example. The next player has to pick a name that starts with the last letter of that name — so in this case, a D. On it goes, with no duplicate names or fake names allowed. For an extra challenge, use the names of cities instead.
20 Questions
Another one that’s endured the test of time. One player thinks of a noun — it has to be a person, place, or thing — and the other players may ask 20 yes or no questions to try to figure out the answer.
One-line storytelling
Flex your narrative muscles by telling a story together as a family, one line at a time. Mom or Dad can start: “Once upon a time, there was a dog named Alex.” Then the next player provides the next line, and so on. It can be a lot of fun to see how different people’s imaginations work.
Billboard alphabet
If you’re passing through an area with lots of billboards, race to see who can spot each letter of the alphabet on a sign, starting with A and working your way to Z.
License plate scavenger hunt
One more option is to keep your eyes open and see if you can spot license plates from all 50 states (bonus points for Canadian provinces). You may need a pencil and paper for this one.
Master these games, and you’ll be ready for a good time on the open road. And if you need a new ride before you set out, visit a Zimbrick dealership to explore new cars for sale in Madison, Wisconsin.
How to Care for Your Car This Summer
Routine vehicle maintenance is essential for keeping your car running in peak condition and for ensuring a healthy lifespan. As such, it’s wise to keep tabs on your car’s maintenance needs year-round. The summer months can provide some unique challenges, with hot weather making your engine work overtime. Here are a few things to remember as you think about your summer automotive needs.
Summer Car Care Tips
Check your tire pressure
About once a month, use a tire gauge to ensure your tires are inflated to the factory-recommended psi level. If you’re not sure what that level is, just consult the owner’s manual. If you run your car on underinflated tires, it increases the risk of them becoming overheated and ultimately rupturing.
Keep an eye on the cooling system
All cars have cooling systems to prevent against overheating. These systems are particularly valuable during the dog days of summer. As such, a key element in summer car care is making sure your cooling system has been flushed out, and that your coolant levels are topped off. If you’re unsure when you last had the cooling system flushed, it may be best just to make a service center appointment.
Change the oil
Engine oil is also an important safeguard against overheating. Once a month, use your dipstick to check the oil level, and if it’s getting low, make a service center appointment for a full oil change.
Make sure your car stays clean
Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of vehicle cleanliness. This can be an important way of ensuring your car functions at its best. If you’ve been on some long road trip and your carpets and upholstery have seen better days, take a few minutes to give the inside of your vehicle a deep cleansing.
If you prefer, you can have us detail your car at one of our service centers. We can give your car the same treatment that we give to every car sold on our lot. Ask your service advisor about scheduling an appointment to detail your car.
Stay on Top of Summer Car Care
As you consider preventative auto maintenance requirements, don’t hesitate to reach out to our service center. The Zimbrick Automotive service team is here to help and advise any time you need us. Schedule a service appointment in Madison, WI, at your next convenience. And don’t forget to check our latest service specials.
5 Tips for Traveling With Pets This Summer
There’s nothing more fun than traveling with your best friend — your pet. Whether it’s a short jaunt for a day trip or a long road trip, you’ll want to ensure your pet’s safety for the entire commute.
While traveling with your pet can be fun, it can also be dangerous. Even if a car crashes at a speed of only 25 mph, this can still prove fatal for your dog. Despite this startling fact, 84% of dog owners don’t restrain their dog during travel, and 60% have driven while distracted by their pets as passengers.
To make sure your trip stays fun, put safety first. Read these tips before your next drive. Your pet will thank you!
How to Have a Fun Road Trip With Your Pet
Don’t let your pet in the front seat or on your lap
Think of your pet as a young child — they’re not big enough for the front seat. While it may be fun to have your pet in your lap or next to you in the car, it’s not worth the risk.
Restrain or crate your pet
Don’t let a sudden stop or crash lead to serious injury for your furry friend. There are a variety of ways to restrain your pet in the car comfortably. This includes seat belts designed for pets, harnesses, crates, backseat barriers, or carriers.
Don’t leave pets in a hot car
Like children, you should not leave your pets in a hot car for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, this happens all too often, leading to hundreds of pet deaths each year.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a short trip to the grocery store or if you cracked the window — the car can heat up much faster than you might expect, leading to potentially fatal heat exhaustion for your pup.
Don’t travel with your pet in the truck bed
Just like you wouldn’t want a small child in the back of your truck bed while it’s moving, your dog shouldn’t be in there, either. They could seriously injure or accidentally kill themselves. Not to mention that they can distract other drivers on the road.
Only drive a safe, reliable car that’s fully tuned up
Now, this last safety tip isn’t just for pets — it’s for everyone. Long road trips are risky if you can’t trust your vehicle to get you there safely.
Drive Safely With Your Pet in and out of Madison, WI
Does your vehicle need a tune-up? Schedule an appointment at our service center to make sure your oil, brakes, battery, and more are road trip ready.
Is your vehicle on its last legs? Explore our large inventory of new and used cars for sale in Madison, Wisconsin.
Next step? Make sure you check off all the items on our essential road trip checklist.
How to Get Your Car Ready for a Road Trip
The U.S. is vast and full of intense beauty around every corner, which has practically made going on road trips a national pastime. If you’re planning a road trip this summer — or any time of year — read our list of tips to make sure you’re prepared.
Road Trip Preparation For Your Car
As memorable as it is to have breakdown road trip stories, you can reduce your chances of a mishap by following these steps:
Check fluids
Brake fluid, power steering, transmission fluid, antifreeze, windshield fluid, and oil — all of these should be flushed around the 50,000-mile mark on your odometer. If your car has reached beyond 50,000 miles and you haven’t had all of your fluids flushed and topped off, make sure to do so before you get on the road for an extended period of time.
Inspect your wipers
Many drivers go too long before replacing their windshield wipers, especially when living in an area that doesn’t see much rain. Always make sure that your wipers are in full working condition, and don’t scrape the windshield or smear.
Test your battery
Car batteries typically wear out within three to five years, and it’s one of the most common causes of car breakdowns. You may consider bringing a portable battery charger or some jumper cables if you don’t have roadside assistance or will be in a lightly trafficked area.
Ensure all systems are go
Your brakes and alignment should be in working order. It’s typically obvious when your brakes or rotors need to be replaced due to the squeaking worn brake pads cause. Your alignment may be off if you release your hands from the wheel and the vehicle starts drifting to the left or right.
Tires
Ensure that your tires have a good tread and are fully inflated (best for fuel efficiency) before you go. Inspect them for nails, screws, or anything else that could be embedded in your tread. Any of the above could lead to slow leaks and eventual blowouts.
Road Trip Preparation Tips for You
It’s always handy to have a roadside survival kit (blanket, flashlight, water, first aid kit) in case of accidents or breakdowns. Your warranty, insurance, and other vehicle and roadside assistance information should also be kept in your glove compartment for emergencies.
Always take your vehicle to get inspected by professionals before a long journey, even if there are no diagnostic lights on.
Embark on Your Road Trip From Madison, WI
The service center at Zimbrick Automotive in Madison, Wisconsin, is here to ensure that you make it safely from point A to B and back again. Schedule your appointment before your next road trip.
How to Find the Right Car for You
With thousands of cars, minivans, SUVs, and trucks on the market, narrowing the choices down to one might take a while. To help you make your decision, here are 5 factors to consider when buying a new car.
What to Consider When Shopping for a New Car
Lifestyle
Your haircut, clothes, and home decor say something about you. Your car isn’t any different.
Chances are you’ll enjoy spending time behind the driver’s seat if the car you’re driving represents you. If you enjoy a flare of luxury then consider a sedan that offers leather seats and ambient lighting. If you have a heart for adventure, then choose an SUV or hatchback that can keep up with your exciting lifestyle. If you live life loud and bold, then search for cars with superior sound systems, connectivity, and urban colors.
Size
A 2-door sedan may not be the ideal choice for a family of 5. In contrast, unnecessary space can be a loss of value.
If the number of passengers is negotiable but you require additional storage space, look for cars with seats that fold down to provide ample cargo room. Research specs to ensure there is adequate headroom and legroom for each seat. If you have a growing family and require one or multiple child seats, be sure to research how many child seats each car can accommodate.
Efficiency
How long is your daily commute to work? What are the gas prices in your area? What convictions do you have about energy use? These might not be the most exciting questions to ask now, but they will have an outsized influence on your happiness with the car (and your wallet) over the years.
Performance
Chances are if you are looking for a new minivan for your growing family, your top priority isn’t horsepower or towing capacity. If you need something that can tow your trailer or boat, however, then these become vital to your decision.
Don’t let your car inhibit you from the life you want to live. Let it instead be an asset to get you exactly where you want to go.
Price
Price will likely be an important factor you will need to consider, but it doesn’t have to feel limiting. Considering used or certified pre-owned vehicles may open up hundreds more possibilities for you if you know what to look for.
All factors considered, we’re certain we can help you find the right car at Zimbrick Automotive. We have a huge inventory of new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, and our fully-trained staff can help you narrow down your wishlist to find the make and model you are looking for. Visit any of our locations to see what options we have for you today.
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