AUTONET TV

Detective Cayenne On Automotive Work in Princeton

A dog's nose can find anything; I mean, look at my schnoz. I could find anything with this.....lol.  Hi Cayenne here and today we are going to do some detective work for automotive diagnosing.  So let's get barkin and get out our magnifying glass to do some sleuthing.

There's a reason we use the word “diagnose” when we talk about fixing cars in Princeton. Figuring out what's wrong with your vehicle has a lot of similarities to figuring out what's wrong with someone who is ill. Vehicles are a mass of complex systems that can produce a variety of symptoms when something goes wrong. As with human diagnoses, a single symptom may indicate a number of problems, and determining the exact cause requires training and experience.

Sometimes the diagnosis of your vehicle's trouble comes down to trial and error. This can be frustrating for Princeton drivers because time and money are on the line. You may feel you should only be paying for repair work. Of course, you only want to pay for the right repair – and a proper diagnosis is part of getting it right. Like at the doctor's office — some of what you pay for is the doctor's time and effort to figure out what's wrong with you, not for the actual cure.

The good news is that Princeton drivers can do a lot to help their friendly and knowledgeable service advisors at KPS Princeton Garage figure out what's wrong with their vehicle. Again, the medical office is a good analogy. The more information you can give your doctor about where it hurts, when it hurts and how it hurts, the more quickly he will be able to help you. In the same way, the more you can tell your KPS Princeton Garage service technician about when the problem occurs, what is sounds like, how often it occurs, where it occurs, etc., the more efficiently he will be able to get you back on the road.

Good preventive maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your car out of a Princeton repair shop, but if you need to take it there, good communication will get you back on the road quickly.

I leave you with this thought on being a detective,

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." ~ Sherlock Holmes

Cayenne

KPS Princeton Garage
3860 NJ-27
Princeton, NJ 08540
732-297-9515

Defensive Driving in Princeton, NJ

There was a man in the Princeton area who learned that most car accidents occur within a mile of home – so he moved. (Just kidding!)

When we think of defensive driving, we often focus on our local NJ highway situations. The fact of the matter is we need to be just as careful close to home in Princeton, because that's where we do most of our driving. We can't let our familiar surroundings keep us from driving defensively.

Defensive driving begins with the proper attitude. Have in mind that you won't let anyone take your safety away from you. You'll be aware of your surroundings, road conditions, other vehicles and hazards. And the first person to be concerned with is you: start with your own environment.

Don't leave without securing all occupants including children and pets. Watch for loose items that can become projectiles during evasive maneuvers.

Driving too fast or too slow increases the chance of an accident.

Never drive impaired: Alcohol is a factor in half of all fatal crashes. Never drink and drive.

Other impairments include being sleepy, angry, daydreaming or talking. If you suddenly wonder how you got where you are – you're not paying enough attention.

Keep your windows clean and uncluttered. No fuzzy dice and stickers.

Keep your car in good shape so that it handles properly: Maintain tires, lights, brakes, suspension, wheel alignment and steering.

Always use your turn signals while driving around Princeton, NJ. Avoid other vehicles' blind spots.

Don't drive faster than your headlights – if you can't stop within the distance you can see, you're going too fast.

Avoid driving over debris in the road. Even harmless looking items can cause damage or an accident.

Keep your wheels straight when waiting to turn at an intersection in Princeton . That way if you're hit from behind, your car won't be pushed into on-coming traffic.

My daddy always said that when you drive, you're actually driving five cars: yours, the one in front, the one behind and the ones on either side. You can't trust that other drivers will do the right thing, so you've got to be aware of what they're doing at all times.

If you see another car driving erratically, weaving, crossing lanes, etc., stay back. Take the next right turn if you're downtown Princeton, or take the next exit on the NJ highway. Notify the police if you see someone driving dangerously in our Princeton community.

Never follow too close. The minimum distance is the two second rule. Pick a landmark ahead, like a tree or road marker. When the car in front of you passes it, start counting: 'one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand.' If you pass the landmark before reaching two-one-thousand, you're following too close.

Remember that the two second rule is the minimum – it assumes you're alert and aware. Three seconds is safer. Move out to five seconds or more if it's foggy or rainy.

Someone will inevitably move into your forward safety zone – just drop back and keep a safe distance.

If someone follows you too closely, just move over.

Don't play chicken by contesting your right of way or race to beat someone to a merge. Whoever loses that contest has the potential to lose big and you don't want any part of that. So stay alert, constantly scan around your car and arrive safely.

KPS Princeton Garage
3860 NJ-27
Princeton, NJ 08540
732-297-9515

Automotive Tips from KPS Princeton Garage: Signs of an Alignment Problem

When properly aligned, all of your wheels are pointed in the same direction. Your vehicle will track true and handle the way it is designed. Princeton drivers often associate our wheels being “knocked” out of alignment with an event like an accident, hitting a pothole, curb or some other object.

While these can certainly take your wheels out of alignment, the bumps and bounces of everyday Princeton driving take their toll on wheel alignment as well.

In addition, your vehicle can lose alignment over time with just normal driving. When your wheels are out of alignment, KPS Princeton Garage in Princeton can return your wheels to the vehicle manufacturer’s factory settings. Most owner's manuals suggest an alignment check every year or two. 

Give us a call.

KPS Princeton Garage
3860 NJ-27
Princeton, NJ 08540
732-297-9515

Princeton Drivers: Get Fresh Air Inside Your Car

Let's talk about air quality in Princeton. It's a global issue, but affects us wherever we are. Many decades ago, Princeton drivers began to become aware of how air pollution negatively affects health. But what about the air inside your vehicle?

Now, it's only been in the last few years that cabin air filters have become common in Princeton. You can look in your owner's manual to see if you have one. If you do, there'll be a recommendation for replacing it when it gets dirty. If you live in an area of NJ where there's a lot of dust, pollen or pollution, you may need to change it more often.

You can also ask your friendly and knowledgeable service advisor at KPS Princeton Garage in Princeton. How hard is it to change an air filter on a car? It depends on your vehicle. Some are quite accessible; others take some doing to get to them. They're usually in the engine compartment or under the dashboard.

Because cabin air filters are so new on the scene, some people haven't heard of them – even those who have cabin air filters in their vehicle. KPS Princeton Garage service advisors have discovered that many Princeton customers who complained about an unpleasant odor in their vehicle simply had a dirty cabin air filter. 

KPS Princeton Garage
3860 NJ-27
Princeton, NJ 08540
732-297-9515