Detailing your vehicle for the Summer in Oswego, IL

• Wash the Undercarriage of your vehicle- Although our winter has not been too terrible this year, we all have accumulated salt on the undercarriage of our vehicles. It is a great idea to wash that out.  This will keep our vehicles running smoothly. Salt can cause rust and corrosion to our vehicle.  According to DMV.org, the main places that are affected by salt are:  the exhaust system, our Muffler, the Coil springs, sub-frame and Hydraulic brake system.

• Check your tire pressure- Making sure that your tires are aired up is essential to the upkeep of your vehicle. Remember that heat expands and cold deflates our tires.  So when it is hot, make sure that your PSI is 3-5 lower, and in the winter it should be 3-5 PSI higher.

• Check your fluids- make sure your windshield wiper fluid gets refilled immediately. The salt over the winter has depleted our fluids in our vehicle.   Also make sure that you check your brake fluid.  The winter takes a toll on our vehicles, and it is a good practice to check it when the weather gets nice.  Also take a look at your engine oil, coolant and the power steering fluid.

• Empty everything out of your vehicle-Over the winter, we accumulate a lot of trash, and extra stuff in our vehicles. We have extra clothes, ice scrapers, umbrellas, blankets, etc.   Take 5 minutes to empty everything out so you can have your vehicle detailed. Also add a small bag or trash can, so you can prevent the trash pile up in the future.

• Have your car detailed! We have a great detailer at AutoSmart.  He will hand wash your vehicle, remove contaminates from paint, recondition the paint, apply wax, clean and polish your wheels, clean the wheel wells, and clean the door and trunk jams.  The interior of your vehicle, and the mats and carpets, will be completely shampooed and deep cleaned. The seats will be treated, everything vacuumed, all vinyl protected and the glass will be cleaned.

Get rid of that dust and grime and give us a call for your detail appointment today! You will be blown away by how great your vehicle looks, it will look brand new!

AutoSmart, Inc.
39E Stone Hill Rd.
Oswego, IL 60543
630-554-2285
www.autosmartnetwork.com

Preparing your Vehicle’s tires for Summer!

Who is ready to open those windows and enjoy the breeze?  Go on summer vacation, take the boat out on the water, and work on their spring and summer tires.  You heard me right; did you know that you need to alter your tires by the season?  

Let’s get those tires ready!  Here is everything you need to know about updating your tires for spring.  

Proper Tire Tread

Tire tread is very important on the snow, but also in the rain. The law requires our tires to be at least 2/32”.  There are indicators on our tires in North America called wear bars that help indicate when it is time to replace our tires.  I think the easiest way to gauge this though, is with a penny.  Turn the penny, so Lincoln’s head is facing down, and place into the tread.  If Lincoln’s head is partially covered, you have enough tread in your tire.  You can also use a quarter.  Turn the quarter, so Washington’s head is facing down, and place into the tread.  If part of Washington’s head is covered by the tire, you have more than 4/32” tread remaining. You will want to test multiple areas on the tire, as well as all of your tires.  You can gauge uneven wear and tear on them by doing this.  

In the winter, on the snowy terrain, our tires should have a minimum remaining tread of 5/32”.  This allows the snow to compact under the tire and be released.  If there is not enough tread, it will reduce the vehicles traction and mobility, causing more accidents.  Spring tires, should have a minimum remaining tread of 4/32”.  Spring brings rain, which bring hydroplaning.  Typically people who experience hydroplaning during the rain, will have tires that don’t meet this minimum tread requirement.  If the tread is too low, there is nowhere for the rain to escape causing your tire to ride on top of the water.  

Tire Pressure

Did you know that the pressure in your tires should be 3-5 PSI higher in the winter?  Winter provides a host of not so fun driving conditions.  From ice to snow and everything in between, we are sometimes less responsive than on dry roads.  The 3-5 PSI higher helps our tires offset the less responsive driving and also provides more stability to the tire when driving through ice and snow.  

Tire pressures are meant to be tested on cold tires!  This means that the pressure might be skewed if you test after you have been driving all day, or if your car was stored in the garage all night.  Be consistent when testing the pressure of your tires.  Remember that the air in our tires will expand when it is hot, and contract when it is cold.   So keep in mind, PSI in our tires is going down in winter and going up in summer!

AutoSmart, Inc.
39E Stone Hill Rd.
Oswego, IL 60543
630-554-2285
www.autosmartnetwork.com

Selling your Vehicle on Consignment in Oswego IL

Selling your Vehicle on Consignment in Oswego IL

Most people understand how a traditional consignment works. You drop off whatever you want to sell at the consignment store, whether it’s furniture, a book, or an old piece of jewelry, and let the consignment shop do all of the work. Once your item sells, you receive a check equal to the sale price of your item; less the fees you pay to the consignment store.

Recently, a growing trend towards auto consignment has emerged, based on the same simple model. The hassles of private car sales make vehicle consignment well worth considering, but as you might guess, having someone sell your used car is a lot different from having someone sell your old books. To professionally market a higher priced item like a car, requires significant prep work, product knowledge, and skills to facilitate negotiations, the ability to meet buyers’ needs for financing and service contracts, and a variety of other factors that complicate the sale process.

So, with all that said, how exactly does vehicle consignment work? Upon consignment of your motorcycle, car, truck, SUV, or RV, your vehicle is inspected. If necessary, a list of any repairs or cosmetic work to improve its value will be suggested to the seller. A market value analysis of your vehicle is completed, and a recommendation of an asking price is made. 

Properly marketing your vehicle is critical to selling it quickly and at the right price. Auto consignment dealerships should have a professional customer service team that will meet all of your demands.  Some auto consignment dealers will photograph and list your car on Craigslist, Carsforsale.com, Autotrader.com, and other favorite websites that are frequented by car buyers. Some consignment dealers will offer to clean and detail services to get your vehicle showroom-ready before photographed and marketed to potential buyers.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of vehicle consignment dealers is that they handle the actual sale transaction. they usually handle all test drives, buyer inquiries, and DMV paperwork. These essential pieces to private party car sales can require a great deal of your time, and are best left to experienced consignors. Most dealerships will manage buyer negotiations, a valuable service that can be a tremendous comfort to buyers and sellers alike, as negotiating with strangers can be difficult. While some put buyers in direct contact with sellers, others act as a buffer between the two parties, making the transaction anonymous to both sides. The safest and process for the buyer and seller is to allow the consignment dealership to handle all negotiations, payment processing, and DMV paperwork.  

Safety is a key concern in private party car sales, and consignment dealers protect sellers and buyers alike. Auto Consignment offers an attractive option for vehicle owners who would like to get more money for their car than the dealer trade-in price, as the vehicle will be marketed professionally without the traditional hassle and frustration of trying to sell it yourself. 

Give us a call today, so we can give you more information about our vehicle consignment services!

AutoSmart, Inc.
39E Stone Hill Rd.
Oswego, IL 60543
630-554-2285
www.autosmartnetwork.com

In case of emergency, what do I put in an Auto Survival Kit?

The key to surviving an emergency is preparation.  You may not have been a Boy Scout, but that does not mean you are at the mercy of fate.  While watching episodes of Bear Grylls may give you some entertaining comfort, it is unlikely he will be there to hold your hand.  Imagine yourself on a trip to an unfamiliar location.  The car dies, or you’ve slipped into a ditch.  You pull out your cell phone and the battery is dead or there is no coverage.  When things start going wrong, the items we take for granted tend to fail us.  Having a simple plan allows us to adapt and move forward.  Our survival kit will be the key. 

Safe operation of vehicle.

• Window scraper to remove snow and ice.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full.
• Tell someone where you are going, the expected route, and idea of when you plan on being back.

Simple roadside breakdown. 

1. Safety Triangles and or flares.  This will allow other motorists to see you and avoid an accident.
2. Jumper cables.  The extreme cold weather can quickly run down a battery.  Having cables and have you back on the road in minutes.
3. Traction pads, old carpeting, cat litter.  If you can get some traction, skidding into a ditch might not require a tow.
4.  Shovel.  Removing snow will go more quickly.
5. Chain or tow cable.  A Good Samaritan may show up and be willing to give you a pull.
6. Flashlight.  Makes life much easier when the sun goes down.
7. Extra fuses, fan belts, duct tape

Extended breakdown, now what?

1. Florescent Flag to hang on the antenna or window allowing rescue crews to find you with greater ease.
2. First Aid Kit.
3. Prescription drugs
4. Water
5. Blankets and sleeping bags.
6. Winter clothing, hats, gloves, extra coat.
7. Non perishable food, granola bars, candy bars, instant soup.
8. Tin can or small cooking pot.
9. Lighter, waterproof matches.
10. Candles.  Lighting a candle can provide additional warmth to a car raising the temperature as much as 4.5 degrees.  The candle can also be a heat source for turning snow into water.

Other tips:  Stay with your car.  It provides shelter and it is easier for rescue crews to locate a stationary object.  To add visibility at night for the rescue crew, leave the dome light on.  In an effort to conserve your battery, only use hazard flashers when someone approaches.  The tail pipe must be free of snow to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.  Running the auto for ten minutes an hour and leaving the window cracked during operation of the engine should reduce exposure to exhaust fumes.  A hand held crank radio or a weather radio would give you an idea of future weather reports.  A cell phone adapter for your car would allow you to recharge and make that 911 call.   Once on the phone with 911, stay on the line.  Do not hang up!  If you absolutely need to abandon the car, leave a note with your contact information and your planned route of departure.  Leave the note on the windshield so it can be easily found. 

What is an Auto Concierge service?

Auto concierge services work for the auto buyer and act as an advocate for the buyer.  They serve as a fact finder, negotiator, and personal assistant.  The concierge, just like a five star hotel concierge, researches the customer’s needs and desire for a new vehicle.  The concierge service may take several forms. 

Phone consultations are available at an hourly rate; have your questions prepared in advance.  The client gives the concierge service a list of their needs, wants and desires.  Is the car available with a V8, standard transmission, Bose® sound system, with anti-lock brakes? 

The concierge will find, determine and provide you current MSRP prices and the dealerships/manufacture’s current price and incentives.  The concierge calls their contacts in the auto dealing community requesting prices and availability of the vehicle in question.  The concierge will provide you with the information that dealers don’t want their customers to know. 

Put yourself in the driver’s seat.  Knowledge is power.  For the time sensitive client who understands that time is money, the concierge will locate your new vehicle and take care of every last detail. Whether you have a vehicle to trade, or looking to finance, they can arrange everything. 

Premiere services would take care of every detail and a concierge consultant would meet you at the dealership to walk you through the entire process. This is the hands on approach that will assure that you get the best deal.  Few clients enjoy haggling over price.  Some will give away their trade to avoid personally haggling over prices. 

Now they have an advocate to negotiate on their behalf.  Upon arriving at an agreeable price, the concierge then books the appointment for dealer to meet with the client.  The necessary paperwork is completed and the client is usually in and out of the dealership with their new vehicle in less than an hour.  For the time pressured professional, the concierge service leverages time and dealer contacts to save time and money.