Download the Chevy Game Time App for the chance to win1 one of 20 Chevys and thousands of other prizes from Papa John's, Sirius XM, Bridgestone, Motorola, and NFLShop.com. Answer live trivia about the big game, get the most up-to-date stats, unlock exclusive content, and much more.
Slow down! This should be obvious but it also very important. People are so used to driving certain speeds on certain roads that sometimes they forget the need to slow down when inclement weather presents itself.
Before you go - Wet-weather driving demands gentle use of all the main controls - steering, clutch, brake and accelerator - and a larger allowance for errors and emergencies. When you begin a journey in rain, your shoes will be wet and liable to slip off the pedals. Scuff the soles on the rubber matting or carpeting of the car before you start the engine. All motorists should regularly check that their headlights, tail lights, brake lights and turn signals are working properly.
How are your tires? - Check your tires on a regular basis. Bald tires significantly reduce your traction on wet roadways, and offer little resistance to hydroplaning. When your tires run over water, the water is displaced and it needs somewhere to go quickly. The best place is between the treads of your tires. If your tires are bald, the water has no place to go and you end up riding on a layer of water, like a boat. (See Hydroplaning, below.)
Turn on your wipers - Replace your wipers regularly, at least once a year. Wiper blades in bad condition don't clear water from the windshield very well and distort your view. Older vehicles may need to have the whole wiper arm replaced. The arms bend over time and sometimes can't keep enough downward pressure to clear the windscreen, even with new blades installed. Wipers will often clear light rain from the windscreen with a few sweeps, then run on an almost-dry screen and leave smears of drying dirt. Don't be afraid to use the windscreen washers liberally: the fluid is cheap (99 cents a gallon) and the safety benefit is high. Carry extra during the winter.
Don't follow large trucks or busses closely. Splash and spray from these vehicles can obscure your vision, creating a potentially disastrous driving situation. Keep your distance, and your windshield wipers on, when other traffic is in front of you.
Turn on your lights - Whenever visibility is poor or it rains, headlights are a good way to let other drivers know where you are. It's both helpful to other travelers and makes you more safe. Remember, you are not the only one affected by poor visibility. You may be able to see cars without their headlights on but others may not have vision or windshield wipers as good as yours. Many states require headlights to be turned on when it is raining or when visibility is reduced to less than 500 feet.
Heavy rain - Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades, allowing an almost continuous sheet of water to flow over the screen. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes, seldom more than a few minutes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers.
Foggy windows - Rain or high humidity can quickly cause windows to mist up inside the car. In a car equipped with air conditioning, turn up the heat and direct the airflow to your defrosters with the AC switch engaged. (Many cars automatically engage the AC when switched to the defrost mode.) In a car without AC the procedure is the same, but you may need to open your side windows to get the air moving. Most modern cars have a built-in rear window defroster that easily clears a misted rear windscreen by heating up electrodes embedded in the glass. If you don't have one, put your defroster on high and its hot air will eventually follow the inside of the roof down to the rear window. If the car has swiveling dashboard vents, adjust them so that the air flow strikes the upper edge of the side windows. The airflow will clear the side windows first, finally traveling to the rear of the car. If all else fails, a rag or article of clothing will work as well; you'll just need to clear the window more often. Drivers should regularly clean their windshield and windows, both on the inside and outside, to help them see in good and bad weather. Smokers need to take extra care to make sure their interior windows are clear of a buildup of smoke residue.
Handling a skid - Losing control of your car on wet pavement is a frightening experience. You can prevent skids by driving slowly and carefully, especially on curves. Brake before entering the curves. Steer and brake with a light touch. If you find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. This procedure, known as "steering into the skid," will bring the back end of your car in line with the front. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you "steer into the skid."
Expressway driving - Leave lots of space between you and the car in front because it takes longer to stop. You're supposed to leave a few seconds between cars in dry weather. Make sure you add space in wet weather because if you have to hit the brakes hard, your tires will lock up, you will hydroplane and you will most likely hit the car in front of you. If available, drive in the fast lane, where there are fewer cars and less oil deposited on the road. Also, because of the built-in slope of the road, water drains towards the slower lanes. Avoid lane changes, as water tends to build up between the tire ruts in the lanes.
Oily deposits - Watch for intersections because of the oil spots in the road. Rain is most dangerous when it falls after a long, dry spell on to roads that have become polished and smooth: the rain blends with oil and rubber-dust deposits on the road surface to form a highly dangerous skid mixture. That mixture builds up at intersections, where cars stop and start frequently. Be extra careful immediately after it starts raining because it takes a while for the worst of the dirt and oil to get washed off the road.
Driving Through Water - Where water has flooded onto the road, drive very slowly and cautiously. Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it: you and your car could be swept off the road, possibly finishing you both. Stop the car before entering the flooded area and check the water level ahead. Generally, if the water is deeper than the bottom of your doors or the bottom third of your wheels, it is inadvisable to attempt driving through it. Seek a detour rather than braving the flood and risking damage to your electronic control systems. Attempting to go through deep water can ruin any of these systems, creating a repair bill in the thousands of dollars.
At night it's much harder to see water hazards. You'll need good road observational skills to notice the difference between a wet road surface and flood water. Watch the contours not only of the road but also of fences, trees, hedges and buildings at the side of the road ahead. If they appear to be unnaturally low, slow down at once as the road is probably flooded. If you don't slow down and hit flood water at speed, the effect is almost like hitting a wall: you will first lose control, then come to a violent stop, possibly injuring your passengers as well. Watch out for places where floodwater collects, particularly low-lying roads adjacent to streams, and dips under rail or highway bridges.
If you determine it's safe to go on, proceed slowly and avoid making large waves in the water. If you have a manual transmission, engage first gear and keep the engine running fast by releasing the clutch just enough to partially engage gear and giving more acceleration than usual. This keeps the exhaust gases moving, helping to prevent water from entering your tailpipe. Vehicles with automatic transmissions should place the car in first gear and feather your brake, slowing the vehicle while at the same time keeping your revs up. Doing this for longer than a few seconds can seriously damage your vehicle and is not recommended. If you're submerged too deeply, your engine will stall and water might enter your engine through your air intake, causing a condition known engine hydro-lock, forcing you to replace it.
What to do if you stall in deep water - If possible, have someone pull your vehicle out using a tow rope or cable winch. It may be possible to drive a manual transmission car out using the starter motor. You can make the job easier by removing your spark-plugs, thereby lowering your compression and making your starter turn more easily. Take great care not to let water enter the cylinders, as it will hydro-lock your engine, ruining it. This is a last resort for rescuing a flooded vehicle and is not recommended.
Check your brakes - If you successfully pass through a deep water hazard, test your brakes. They may be saturated, and only driving very slowly and braking lightly at the same time will generate enough heat to dry them out. Be sure they are pulling evenly on all wheels before building up speed again.
Courtesy of SmartMotorist.com
DETROIT – Chevrolet today announced a first-of-its-kind app which will allow viewers of Super Bowl XLVI to play trivia, interact with each other via Twitter, participate in polls and possibly win one of 20 Chevrolets or thousands of other prizes.
The Chevy Game Time app will be available in the Android Market, the App Store and at chevy.com/gametime by kick off of the NFL’s NFC Championship game Sunday, Jan. 22.
As participants watch the Super Bowl, they can play along to win prizes from Chevrolet, Bridgestone, Motorola, the NFL and NFLShop.com, Papa John’s Pizza and Sirius XM Radio.
“This is the first time any company has attempted such a large-scale app, which will enhance the game watching experience and help them engage in the online conversation about the Super Bowl,” said Joel Ewanick, global chief marketing officer, General Motors.
“The way people watch TV has changed with smart phones and tablets helping viewers interact while in front of the screen,” Ewanick said. “This app takes that interactivity to a whole new level on one of the biggest days for television viewing.”
Chances to win begin as soon as the player downloads the Chevy Game Time app with instant win opportunities. In addition, players will also receive a unique license plate number. If their plate appears during a Chevrolet advertisement during the game or online, they win a vehicle.
While watching the Super Bowl, players can answer trivia questions or polls relating to the football game, teams, commercials and other related events. By selecting the correct or most common answer, they will be entered into drawings to win one of thousands of prizes.
The Chevy Game Time app is one activity among Super Bowl-related initiatives at Chevrolet. These include advertiser exclusivity for the NBCSports.com game day live stream coverage for desktop and tablet computers; partnering with Twitter and the NFL on Twitter’s 'Road to the #SuperBowl' and NFL Huddle site and a range of engagement tactics and fan activations on Chevrolet's own social channels.
“With these initiatives, the traditional ads on the Super Bowl broadcast and additional initiatives we will announce soon, we expect more than 1.5 billion impressions of our message on game day and beyond,” said Ewanick.
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
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Courtesy of GM Media
Almost all private and public vehicles that we see on major and provincial roads use battery for their electrical needs. Radio, lights, horn and the ignition system is dependent on the battery which is a component of the vehicle’s electrical system.
Some may be wondering why the vehicle’s battery doesn’t drain off quickly despite continuous and repeated use. This is because vehicles have their own charging system composed mainly of the alternator and voltage regulator. The charging system ensures that the battery is continuously charged every time the engine is running.
The most common type of battery vehicles use is the lead acid-type battery. These types of batteries have lead and lead oxide plates submerged in about 35 percent sulfuric acid and 65 percent water solution, creating a chemical reaction. The product of this chemical reaction is electricity.
Most often than not, drivers put tap water on batteries, unaware of its negative effects. Tap water has minerals that can ruin battery function, which would eventually slow down the electricity generation. It is necessary to use distilled or de-mineralized water only on batteries to prevent break down.
The battery is one of the most important parts of the vehicle that needs continuous check-up and maintenance. It is important to know the appropriate care to extend its operating life and at the same time, proper handling to prevent accidents.
Courtesy of SmartMotorist.com
CureDuchenne, a non-profit based in Newport Beach, Calif., will auction 19 Super Bowl XLVI packages provided by Cadillac. Each package includes hotel accommodations and a pair of tickets to Super Bowl XLVI, scheduled to be played Sunday, Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The auction runs on the charity auction website charitybuzz.com through Jan. 25. . Proceeds will benefit leading edge research to eventually find a cure for Duchenne, a progressive form of Muscular Dystrophy. Beginning this week, Cadillac will debut a series of announcements featuring NFL Linebacker Clay Matthews to promote the auction.
“This is a meaningful way to support this great innovative organization for this year’s Super Bowl,” said Don Butler, Cadillac vice president of Global Marketing. “This is a disease that knows no boundaries and deeply affects families – including some right here in our own family at Cadillac.”
Matthews, a member of the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers and three-time Pro Bowl nominee, says he is proud to lend his time and support.
“I consider myself very fortunate to be a voice for Duchenne and the CureDuchenne organization,” he said. “With the help and support of Cadillac, and so many great people across the globe, CureDuchenne is getting closer to finding a cure for this devastating disease.”
Currently 20,000 boys and young men are affected by Duchenne in the United States. It is a genetic disease that occurs in one of 3,500 boys worldwide. Boys with Duchenne are usually diagnosed by the age of five, in a wheelchair by age 12, and may be completely paralyzed by their late teens. Historically, most Duchenne patients do not live to see adulthood.
Duchenne can occur in any family, from any race and from any background. Currently, there is no cure, but for the first time there is hope that the current research may result in treatments which will greatly improve the lives of Duchenne boys.
“Last year’s ticket donation raised significant dollars and helped us fund leading-edge, gene therapy research and a dedicated Duchenne clinic at UCLA,” said Debra Miller, who founded CureDuchenne with her husband in 2003. “Our mission of extending and improving the lives of the 300,000 boys worldwide afflicted with Duchenne is more likely realized because of Cadillac’s generosity.”
Cadillac began its support of the CureDuchenne organization in 2010, when its Super Bowl XLV ticket auction raised more than $500,000 for the organization. That was followed by a contest on the American Chopper series on the Discovery Channel last summer. “American Chopper” challenged the highly competitive father-and-son duo Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. in a contest to design and build the best Cadillac design-inspired chopper.
To date, Cadillac has helped raise more than $750,000 for CureDuchenne and expects this year’s ticket auction to top last year’s.
Courtesy of GM
[[posterous-content:pid___0]]"I would really like to take the time to thank two gentlemen at the Rancho Motors in Victorville, CA. Both Donnie Simons and Tommy Mack made it happen for me. I'm a 34 year old family man and have never owned a truck. I have always wanted a Chevy. I own a Suburban, which is pretty much the family vehicle and now I have my truck. The perfect truck.. Thanks again to Donnie and Tommy for making the dream a reality." -JC
"Second car in two months! My son and I went down the hill 2 months ago and we were very disappointed with the service so we decided to come back to our home in the High Desert and boy were we surprised! Donnie Simons was funny, professional, and knowledgeable. We purchased a 2006 Dodge Charger RT, got a great deal and my son is so proud of his new wheels. Tonight I brought my mother back to see Donnie and once again we had an amazing experience. She bought a 2008 Cadillac CTS that is beautiful. We laughed and joked and then got down to the numbers with Tommy who was awesome as well. As before, we received a great deal, were treated with respect and professionalism and even though we had to wait a while for financing (they were selling vehicles like hotcakes) it was well worth it. I recommend Rancho to anyone who is looking for a great deal, no pressure and excellent customer service."
Route 66 Submission - What happens when a man's best friend meets a neighbor's new car? Temptation is a powerful force, especially when it takes the form of a new Chevy Camaro.
Queens, NY native Luis Tolentino shows off his skateboarding skills and inspires Brooklyn tattoo artist John Reardon to put fresh ink on a Chevy Sonic. Click on http://spr.ly/ua2b for the reveal.
"I was actually in control of how much gas I consumed, and it was a powerful feeling," Say's Joe Nocera an automotive journalist, after driving Volt. If you want to drive using only electricity, you can. If you want to drive using electricity and gas, you can do that too. Volt is first for two very good reasons.
If you can drive, you can drive a Volt. Instead of turning a key, you push a blue button. Rather than looking at dials and needles, you check two interactive LCD screens for feedback based on your particular driving style.
"One thing I really love about the Volt is the cockpit. You sit in it, and you feel like you just stepped into the future," Says Volt owner Alex Fay. "You've got two really bright screens that give you all sorts of information about your car and your driving." The screens allow you to learn how to get the most out of each charge. For example, suppose you want to go from A to B in the most efficient manner possible. Volt is programmed to respond with a choice of three driving modes. Normal mode enables Volt to drive like a conventional car, only more efficiently. Sport mode gives drivers more aggressive feedback and heightened response. Mountain mode maintains a power reserve for climbing long, steep grades.
The connection is direct: head, right foot, motor, power. Without a traditional transmission, 273 lb.–ft. of low–end torque has nowhere to go except to the tires and pavement. This helps explain why a vehicle with an electric propulsion system can feel so powerful and exhilarating. No wonder Volt has the ability to reach a test–track speed of 100 mph. There's the smooth whisper–like quiet ride, perfect for expressing your astonishment. Out loud, of course.
A 16kWh lithium–ion battery pack powers Volt for an EPA–estimated 35 miles on a full charge. If you also have a full tank of gas, the total driving range is up to 375 miles11. It's electric when you want it, gas when you need it. If the battery runs low, you don't have to worry because Volt automatically transitions to a unique gasoline range–extending capability.
"I love the ability of being able to not burn any fossil fuels at all for many of my trips," says Volt owner Jim Jonah. "Yet I still have the ability to go on a last minute road trip/vacation/travel soccer game and not worry about running out of battery range." Even if you never use it, you know you've got a backup plan. Chevy puts the same kind of confidence behind our 8–year/100,000–mile Battery and Voltec Component Limited Warranty12. Engineering in. Fun out.
Chevy designers constantly talk about form and function but when it comes to Volt, Director of Design Bob Boniface will tell you that they didn't compromise aesthetics to enable function. The result? A vehicle that looks sporty, quick, smooth and modern, yet achieves an extremely low coefficient of drag.
Countless hours in the wind tunnel influenced the styling of many exterior components including mirrors, a closed grill, rocker panels and the rear spoiler. In fact, the vertical blades that go from the bottom of the spoiler to the bottom of the bumper were designed specifically to trick the air into separating from the bumper more quickly, giving Volt extraordinary aerodynamics.
Make a smart statement with available 17–inch polished alloy wheels. Or choose available 17" painted sport wheels, which come with the option for dealer–installed inserts available in Silver Ice Metallic, Viridian Joule or Cyber Gray Metallic.
Courtesy of Chevrolet
"My experience with the service department is always a great pleasure. They have great follow up and even give me a ride to work and back. Jeremy in internet sales is great and follows up with us regularly. We will be purchasing our next vehicles from Rancho Motors.
*It is imperative to choose a dealer who has an outstanding service department. Its not just about price you pay for a vehicle its the service that goes along with it. I am a strong believer in purchasing the vehicle from where you intend to have it serviced and Rancho Motor Company is my preferred choice. Beware of dealerships who have constant service manager turnovers!*"
[[posterous-content:pid___0]]An oil and filter change involves draining out the old motor oil and replacing it with fresh, new motor oil. The oil filter also gets replaced at the same time.
In general, yes. Changing your vehicle's oil is one of the most important things you can do to avoid bringing large bags of money to your mechanic later on.
However, there's a lot of controversy about exactly when engine oil gets old and how often it should be replaced with new oil. Because there are many factors at work -- how you drive, the condition and age of the engine, the external environment you drive in, and stop-and-go versus highway driving -- it's an inexact science. Owner's manual recommendations for oil and filter changes vary from 3,000 to 10,000 miles.
We recommend that you change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. That's our best estimate. It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few, but for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.
You may want to consider changing your oil more frequently if:
Oil undergoes thermal breakdown due to high operating temperature. When this occurs, the oil becomes less effective as a lubricant. And without a good lubricant (read: expensive), parts of the engine rub together and wear each other out.
Oil also contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these additives get used up and stop being effective.
Finally, oil can absorb water, dust and combustion byproducts and also hold them in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated with this stuff and can't absorb any more. Then that stuff remains in the engine and can cause corrosion.
Your engine won't last as long as it could. Oil serves many crucial functions, and clean oil performs those functions better than dirty oil. Oil is relatively cheap, and changing your oil every 5,000 miles is a very cheap insurance policy against major repairs down the road.
Courtesy of CarTalk
"Rancho Motors is always very efficient. I appreciate their positive and professional customer service. They make me feel like a member of an elite Chevrolet club. Needless to say, the staff are very friendly. Overall my experience was great!" - Ponbar
New and classic footage of Zoo York Pro skateboarders Rodney Torres and Eli Reed inspires New York street artist Alice Mizrachi to paint an original design on the Chevy Sonic.
More importantly, the plan wasn't to simply make a race-worthy Camaro, the brief was to make one one that was cost efficient enough to lure new entrants into the racing game. Planned overhauls for the engine and gearbox are at 5,000 kilometers and other parts at 10,000 km.
The Camaro GT3 has been homologated by the FIA, Reiter says two cars are already planned for use in Germany's ADAC GT Masters series and that other inquiries have been made about GT4 and touring cars. It is priced at €195,000 + VAT ($253,056 U.S.).
Courtesy of AutoBlog
