Tag Archives: woodys tech tip

foot activated liftgate, ford, ford escape

Foot Activated Liftgate? No way!

The foot activated liftgate automatically opens when it detects the kicking motion under the rear bumper, allowing someone with their arms full to access the cargo area easily.

Keep in mind though that not anyone can just walk up to your vehicle and open it! It has to make sure you’re the correct person by detecting the key fob to let the liftgate know it’s is OK to accept the foot activation!

The system utilizes two sensors located between the tailpipes that form an electronic field. When broken, the field activates the liftgate. The picture belows shows the foot activated liftgate and example of why it is so handy!

escape-liftgate

The foot activated liftgate system is very picky though! You can’t just walk up to the car and wave your food around underneath it! You must do a kick motion. The sensors looks for 4 things. The shin breaking the barrier, followed by the foot, then the shin leaving followed by the foot! That motion only, activated the liftgate! Pretty fancy and secure!

The foot activated liftgate is available in select models of 2013 and newer Ford Escapes! See some at www.wowwoodys.com today!

New Cars, New Coupes, New Sedans, New Suvs, New Trucks, Woody's Tech Tips, woodys automotive group

How long do your brakes last? That’s up to you.

#TechTuesday Tip: Braking

How long will the brakes in your car last? Well, that’s really up to you, how you drive your car, and where you drive your car. Flat, easy terrain will mean longer lasting brakes. You live in the mountains? All bets are off… The way you drive your car also plays a huge role in the lifespan of your brakes. Here’s a few tips to help your brakes live a little longer

  • Stops from high speeds are your brake’s #1 enemy. Brakes sacrifice themselves by turning energy into heat. By stopping from a slower speed, a lot less brake material will be burned off. By coasting up to a known stop will significantly increase your brake’s lifespan
  • Only use your right foot to drive. Ever see cars that are driving down the road with their brake lights on? That driver is probably driving with both feet, pushing the gas pedal and (inadvertently) pushing the brake at the same time.
  • Brake fluid needs to be changed from time to time. It’s what mechanics call flushing and bleeding the system. If you have an older vehicle, renew the brake fluid. You don’t gain a thing if you’re saving the brakepads and the system is rotting from the inside out. Brake fluid naturally attracts moisture which can promote internal corrosion, and really limit the effectiveness of your brakes.

If your driving habits are sensible but your brakes are still wearing rapidly, the problem may be with the car. The Service Department at the Woody’s Automotive Group is a full service shop that works on all makes and models- Just give Matt a call today! 888-869-0963

Woody's Tech Tips, woodys automotive group

My blinker doesn’t blink! Arrrgh!

fix a burned out blinker

So you turned on your blinker, but the turn signal light on your dashboard isn’t blinking. It’s just on. It’s solid. Just staring at you… Now what? The bulb for your blinker just might be burned out. The solid light is your car’s way of telling you that either the front or the rear blinker isn’t working anymore. Relax, this is an easy fix! First, determine whether the front blinker or the rear blinker is burned out. When your car is on (and in park of course), just turn on the blinker so you can get out and check the front and the back of the car. Once you’ve determined which bulb it is, the next step is to figure out how to access it. Older cars may still have screws on the plastic lens cover that you can unscrew from the outside, but most newer vehicles will allow you to access the socket from the backside. Usually the back lights are easier to access, because the assemblies can be accessed from inside the trunk. In some vehicles, there is a protective plastic cover that might be held in place with plastic screws or fasteners. Once these are out of the way, you should be able to see the socket assembly and remove it. If you’re dealing with the front blinkers, you may have to do some reaching from underneath. Once you get the bulb out, replace it with the correct replacement. If you don’t know what type you need, you may need to remove it and take it to the auto parts store or big box store and buy one just like it. When your new bulb is installed, just put everything back together and test everything out. This is easy to do if you have a friend to watch the lights for you. It’s just as easy to test the lights by yourself- by backing up to the garage door and turning on the blinkers and pressing the brake pedal- you can easily see the lights shining back at you from the flat, smooth garage door. If you have LED tail lights and blinkers, you’ll probably never need to worry about this. What if both your blinkers or tail lights went out at the same time? You may have blown a fuse, but that’s a story for another day…

The Service Department at the Woody’s Automotive Group works on nearly every make and model. If your car needs a little extra attention, contact the service professionals today! |http://www.wowwoodys.com/service-center

New Cars, New Coupes, New Sedans, New Suvs, New Trucks, travel, Woody's Tech Tips, woodys automotive group

A headlight is just a headlight, right? Not anymore!

Woody's Automotive Group Headlight Service

A headlight is just a headlight, right? At one time this may have been true, but today there are three main options for manufacturers and auto buyers to choose from. Headlamp technology has evolved over the years, but does newer always mean better? I guess it depends on what you’re looking for in a headlight.

The first up is the trusty, time-tested halogen headlamp. Most vehicles on the road today are using halogen lights. This is the oldest of the three options found on new vehicles, but it’s still widely used today because it’s primary advantage is longevity and cost. Under normal conditions, a halogen bulb will last about 1,000 hours and the replacement lamps are usually inexpensive to replace. So why not use them in everything? Halogen isn’t exactly the best example of efficiency. Lots of the energy used by a halogen lamp is turned into heat and is just wasted. If you’re driving an electric car or a hybrid, you can’t afford to be wasting your power in the form of throw-away heat. One thing to remember when changing a halogen bulb is to not touch the glass with your fingers. By wearing gloves, you can keep the salt from the moisture in your skin away from the glass. These salts can compromise the way the glass will resist the high temperatures created by the filament.

Halogen Advantages: – Long life – Bright illumination – Inexpensive replacements

Halogen Disadvantages: – Energy wasting – Extra care when handling

Next up is the Xenon headlight, or the HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamp. These are generally regarded as a more efficient solution because they generate more light and have a better color temperature (to the naked eye, they appear to have a blue tint). These lamps can generate more than twice the light of a traditional halogen lamp. More light is a good thing, right? If you’re driving with HID lamps, yes. If you’re the oncoming traffic, not so much. For all the light they generate, an HID lamp should last about 2000 hours under normal conditions. These lamps do cost a little more to produce, install, and replace. Another thing to consider is that some of the Xenon lamps may contain toxic substances like mercury.

HID Advantages: – A longer lifetime than halogen lamps – More efficient than halogen lamps – Better visibility for the driver

HID Disadvantages: – Lots of glare for other drivers – All around higher costs than halogen – Harmful materials MAY be found in the lamps

The third major type of headlight used today is the LED, or Light Emitting Diode. These lamps are certainly a leap forward in technology, but they still have a ways to go. Don’t get me wrong- this type of light still has plenty of advantages and it could take over the headlamp world in a few years. These lamps need very low power to work, which is why they are the lamp of choice in electric and hybrid vehicles where electricity is a premium commodity. Also, an LED lamp is usually pretty small compared to a traditional headlamp, allowing manufacturers to produce all kinds of shapes and configurations that wouldn’t have been possible with the older headlights. Although these don’t create the heat that the other lamps do, there is still a certain amount of heat created at the base of the emitter. This hot-spot does create a potential risk for nearby assemblies and cables. This is the primary reason that these lamps aren’t used more frequently. Currently, production costs are pretty high for LED’s, and they mostly offered as options.

LED Advantages: – Very low energy consumption – Small size allowing for different configurations

LED Disadvantages: – High production costs – Not the brightest – Could cause heat damage to nearby assemblies

So how well does your car see in the dark? Come see the experts at the Woody’s Automotive Group today!

New Trucks, Ram 1500 Trucks, Ram 2500 Trucks, Ram 3500 Trucks, Woody's Tech Tips

Back-up camera? Yeah, everybody’s got one. What the heck’s a CHMSL camera?

CHMSL Camera in action!

You tell people about the back-up camera on your truck and their reaction is usually something like “I’ve had one for years. So what?” Well, if your driving a RAM with a Center High Mounted Stopping Light Camera, now you can start a conversation! Everyone who’s hauled a load in the back of a truck has at one time or another thought to themselves “I wonder what’s going on back there. Have I lost anything?” With a CHMSL camera, those unsure feelings are over. This camera is part of the brake light assembly above the back window and it covers the bed of the truck as well as about 4-5 feet around the back of the truck. The best part about this type of camera is that it can be turned on while you’re driving. Hear a rattling noise while your gooseneck is attached? A quick flip of the switch and you’ll see exactly what’s going on back there. Is that noise a loose pop can or is one of the straps that’s supposed to be securing my load hitting the side of the truck? Just one glance & you’ll know for sure. Interested? Check it out with your favorite sales advisor at the Woody’s Automotive Group today | 888-869-0963

Woody's Tech Tips, woodys automotive group

How’s your truck breathing? It’s not just gulping in air, is it?

RAM Active Air System

Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… No, you’re not in a yoga class- I’m talking about the way RAM trucks can actively manage the air around them to optimize cooling, low end torque and high end horsepower! The RAM Active Air system makes sure the engine is always breathing in nice cool, clean air. Why is cool air important? Well, race cars use a cool air intake to help with horsepower and torque, but the RAM truck also uses it to help cool it’s massive powerplant. RAM Active Air normally draws air in from under the front passenger wheel well where the air is cool and the intake is sheltered from outside debris. If you’re towing or it may just be hot outside, the RAM can also draw air in from the front of the vehicle for some additional breathing.

RAM’s Active Intake Manifold offers the best of both worlds when it comes to either low end torque or high end horsepower. Ever wonder why a drag racer has those long pipes coming out of the hood? Those long air intake runners help give the car lots of low end torque to get that load moving. How about a sports car? They usually have very short intake runners to help with high end horsepower. The RAM Active Intake Manifold is smart, so it can choose between a set of long or short runners. The RAM will always have the right amount of torque or horsepower, all without gulping for air!

Is your truck smart enough to breathe like this? Come see the RAM experts at the Woody’s Automotive Group get started today!

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Pre-Owned Vehicles, Woody's Tech Tips, woodys automotive group

Serpentine belt? Well, that sounds scary!

Woody's will replace your serpentine belt 01

Back in the day, auto mechanics had to replace multiple belts when they worked on a car. Today, one belt called a “serpentine belt” has replaced all these.

It also used to be, that to determine when to replace a serpentine belt, you checked for numerous cracks across the different “ribs” of the belt. This belt shows numerous cracks per inch:

Woody's will replace your serpentine belt 01

If you don’t address a problem belt, you risk the breaking that belt and being stranded on the side of the road. Most serpentine belts will need replacing once every 5 years, depending on the number of miles you’ve driven.

Times are changing- new polymers are used to make serpentine belts and it keeps them from developing the telltale cracks. These belts do wear out and need to be replaced, however. The material on the belt wears much like a tire does. Over time, the belt will loose rubber and the gaps between the “ribs” will deepen. The mechanics in the Woody’s Service Department use a depth gauge to measure the wear of the belt. Trusted repair shops, like Woody’s, will inform customers when their belt has too much wear and needs to be replaced. You’ll definitely be kept in the loop! (Did you see what I did there?)

Woody’s Service Department is a full service shop that works on all makes and models. If your vehicle is need of a little attention, contact Mike Hibner for a fast, honest appraisal today!

Woody's Tech Tips, woodys automotive group

Do your tires cost you at the gas pump?

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How does your choice of tires contribute to your bill at the gas pump? There’s much to consider when selecting a tire, including rolling resistance. As engines become more efficient and car body styles become more aerodynamic, tires play a larger and larger role in the fuel efficiency of any vehicle, especially in slow driving and stop & go traffic.

Much of the tire’s rolling resistance comes from the tire tread design and compound the tread is made from. A formula that includes silica or one that uses a blend of natural and synthetic rubber can reduce tire rolling resistance. Of course, the harder the tire tread is, the less it’s able to grip the road while turning and maneuvering. Interestingly enough, a worn tire is more efficient in terms of fuel efficiency. This is of course no reason to run a worn out tire- there are fuel efficient tread patterns out there. If your vehicle is due for a new set of tires, stop by the Woody’s Service Department and have a chat with Mike Hibner. Once he learns about your vehicle’s needs, he can give you a cost and completion time, no problem.

2014 chrysler 300, 2014 dodge challenger, 2014 dodge charger, 2014 dodge dart, 2015 Chrysler 200, 2015 dodge challenger, Woody's Tech Tips, woodys automotive group

How important are your car’s brakes? Let’s just STOP and think about this!

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Your car seems to stop just fine, but you’ve been noticing a squeal or a metal on metal grinding noise. Should you be worried? Or should you say, “I’ll wait a little longer and see if it gets worse”? You should ask the experts at WowWoodys.com, because inspecting and replacing your brake pads may save you money by preventing a “metal-on-metal” condition that accelerates the need to replace expensive rotors and/or drums.

Properly working brakes are essential to vehicle safety and reliability. When you press your brake pedal and stop your tires from spinning, you need to have the confidence that your vehicle will come to a complete and precise stop- every time. Brake pads, shoes, drums, and rotors are made of materials that wear down from heat and friction, even under normal driving conditions, and over time, these same wear issues can also affect the brake’s hydraulic components including calipers, wheel cylinders, and brake hoses. Failure of these brake components can lead to costly repairs and loss of braking.

It’s important to have your brakes checked at least once a year to keep them responsive and to help avoid costly replacements. However, you should have your brakes checked immediately if you experience any of the following:

  • Brakes are continuously squeaking, squealing, or grinding
  • Your brake or anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning light comes on
  • Your car jerks or pulls to one side when braking
  • You need to pump your brakes for them to work properly
  • Your brake pedal feels unusually soft and spongy or hard
  • You notice brake fluid leaks around the wheels or engine compartment

So if your vehicle comes to a noisy stop, or just takes a little extra time to stop, contact Deryck or Mike through WowWoodys.com’s Service Department or give them a call at 888-869-0963 x24

New Cars, New Coupes, New Sedans, New Suvs, New Trucks, Pre-Owned Vehicles, Ram 1500 Trucks, Ram 2500 Trucks, Ram 3500 Trucks, Woody's Tech Tips, woodys automotive group

Should I have my cooling system serviced, or just keep an eye on it?

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Cooling system problems are a major source of automotive breakdowns. The coolant in your engine is a fluid that absorbs the heat from the engine and transports it to the outside world through your radiator. Servicing your cooling system involves draining and flushing the vehicles cooling system, and then refilling with new coolant.

It’s a good idea to do this because it removes dirt and rust particles that can build up and clog the cooling system, causing problems in both summer and winter. Because the coolant operates in a very hot & hostile environment, it will break down over time. This breakdown can include the rust inhibitors which will leave the small cooling passages in your engine vulnerable to corrosion. If these tiny passages become clogged, you engine will overhead.

Make sure you check your coolant levels periodically. When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at or above the “minimum” or “fill” line on the plastic coolant recovery tank under the hood. When the engine is hot, the level should be at or just below the “max” line. If the coolant level is low, it may be caused by a leak (either internal or external). Leaks should be addressed ASAP, as no coolant could lead to a catastrophic engine failure. To have your vehicle professionally serviced, make an appointment with Deryck or Mike at the Woody’s Service Department! http://www.wowwoodys.com/service-center or 888-895-6545