Ask a Technician: How Often Do I Need to Change my Windshield Wipers?

When it's pouring rain, your windshield wipers can make all the difference between whether you arrive at your destination safely or become involved in a preventable accident. Wiper blades are easy to forget about until you really need them to do their job. Read on to learn more about your windshield wipers and safety tips from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville.

How often to change your windshield wipers

Although the American Automobile Association (AAA) recommends changing wiper blades twice per year, other auto experts suggest every six months to a year depending upon where you live. Drier weather zones where drivers rarely use their blades can usually go longer without a change. However, keep in mind that intense heat and exposure to sunlight can turn rubber brittle and make the blades less effective even if they aren't used frequently. If your wiper blades experience freezing temperatures every winter, the same type of damage will occur. Extreme temperatures put external stress on wiper blades causing them to deteriorate faster.

How to keep your wiper blades in working order

Clean your blades often by removing any debris and built-up dirt. (Read your owner's manual for suggested cleaning products). Don't let ice and snow sit on your wipers for very long or they can't work properly. When temperatures dip below freezing, trying to use them when covered with ice can damage the glass. "Squeaking" wiper blades are more than annoying. When cracks and tears appear, or your wipers labor over the smooth glass surface of your car windshield, it's time to get new blades.

Replacing wiper blades

Handy car owners familiar with auto DIY projects are capable of changing windshield wipers. Know the model and year of your car and either purchase a pair from your car dealership or from another auto products store. Always follow the directions on the package. After cleaning the windshield glass to remove dirt and to create a smooth surface, replace the wiper per the directions. If you aren't comfortable doing this job yourself, be sure to let the mechanic know they need replaced the next time you have your car serviced at your dealership.

Updated windshield wiper design

New car models have replaced rubber windshield wipers with contoured, frameless type blades. This style produces balanced pressure over the windshield. Another innovative feature of this updated design is that the blades wear evenly, avoiding premature damage caused by worn blade edges. Additionally, the design prevents ice from building up between the rubber blade and the metal frame. Another advantage is that these wipers won't freeze.

Don't wait until you are driving through a torrential downpour to think about your windshield wipers. Take a look at them now and avoid visibility problems that can cause an accident.

The Woman’s Guide to the Dealership: Your First Visit

Perhaps you’re a woman who doesn’t particularly relish the prospect of visiting a car dealership. If so, believe our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville when we say you’re not alone. In what is still a very male-dominated environment, women are often put off by the idea of being patronized, or not understanding some of the more technical details about buying a used or new car. However, there's no reason for any woman to feel nervous about visiting a car dealership. Calm those first-time nerves with this simple guide to your first visit.

Do some homework first

It's seldom a good idea to walk straight into a dealership without doing any type of homework, and that goes for any gender. It's no different than visiting the supermarket, for instance. You need a clear reason for your visit, with a basic shopping list in mind. Do some research online to find out what sort of car you would like to buy. Try to narrow down your choices to a few options, so the dealer doesn't have to start from scratch. If you have a basic idea of what you want, the dealer will be able to give you more specific advice.

Ask the right questions

Dealers may wrongly assume that, because you are a woman, you are only interested in specific things about the car. Make sure that the dealer knows you mean business by asking questions about the power, reliability, fuel efficiency and any other practical/technical issues that concern you. Like any other buyer, you want to know that you are getting value for money, and that the car is going to be a sensible investment. Set the scene correctly from the beginning, and ask the right questions.

Make sure you are thorough

Don't let the dealer rush you into a decision. Make it clear that you want all the right information and that you want to take the car for a test drive, too. Don't feel embarrassed about taking notes, or telling the dealer that you may want to get a second opinion from somebody else.

Get ready to negotiate

Women are just as capable of striking a good deal as men, so make sure you get a good price. Don't give away your budget right away. Also, conduct a price check online to be well-informed prior to arriving at the dealership.

Car Culture: What is a Concours Car Show?

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is held in August on the eighteenth fairway of the prestigious golf course. Pebble Beach is no mere car show, however: it's the automotive event of the year, a place where the well-heeled come to see and show off the most beautiful, interesting, and highly sought-after cars in the world. Read on to learn more from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville.

Car shows are as much a part of the American summer as ice cream and trips to the beach. The car show is where enthusiasts gather to display their newly restored classics, their hot rods, and anything that's unusual or, in some way, historic. Visit one of these shows and you'll see vehicles in all kinds of condition and worth anything from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Most shows have some kind of judging, with awards being presented for category winners and of course, for "Best of Show", but a concours takes this competition to a higher, and far more rigorous, level. The cars have to be immaculate and authentic, are often very rare, and usually have some historical significance. They are scrutinized by judges intimately acquainted with every detail of the competing cars, with marks being deducted for the most minor imperfection.

At a typical concours event vehicles are entered into classes, sorted by characteristics like age, type of vehicle, country of origin, and manufacturer. This "leveling of the playing field" allows easier comparisons and lets more owners take home honors (which can significantly increase a car's value!) But at every concours one vehicle is awarded with the highest honor. At the 2013 Pebble Beach event, that honor went to a recently restored 1934 Packard Twelve. As Concours Chairman Sandra Button said, "This Packard is the epitome of American style and grace in the Classic Era…”

The Concours d'Elegance originated in France long before the advent of the motor car, and made it's way to North America in the 1950's. Today they have blossomed beyond just competition and often include an auction and even educational classes on topics such as car restoration and appraisal. They've also become social events for the affluent, where people go to see and been seen.

While California's Pebble Beach is perhaps the best known Concours d'Elegance in the US, events of similar stature are held at Amelia Island, Florida and the Inn at St. Johns, Plymouth, Michigan. Many other cities around the country also host concours events throughout the summer. These may not have the prestige of Pebble Beach but they are still a terrific opportunity to see beautiful cars that are both rare and significant.

Ask a Technician: Why should I change my cabin air filter this season?

Cabin air filtration is quite easily the most easily forgotten auto maintenance item in passenger cars. Since their introduction in roughly the early 1990s, more and more cars are equipped with cabin air filters – from a sub-compact to a full-sized luxury car, nearly all cars available in North America now come equipped with them and thus there’s a pretty good chance your car is equipped with one, and a fair to middling chance that it needs replacement. Read on for the details from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville.

Cabin air filters tend to be buried deep within the dashboard of your vehicle, where the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system are located. They are usually about the size of a standard sized sheet of computer paper, and can vary in terms of material, most common being a cellulose mesh. The cabin air filter is responsible for removing particulate from the air, which can include a whole litany of things you don’t want to be breathing; diesel exhaust, rubber particles, pollen, dust and general air pollution among other things. 

Since the air entering the car through the heating and air conditioning system has to pass through the cabin air filter, the filter can get clogged quite quickly depending on environmental conditions, and a clogged cabin air filter drastically reduces the overall effectiveness of your HVAC system as it struggles to get air flow that a clean cabin air filter would provide.

Other excellent reasons to change your cabin air filter, besides better circulation, include fresher smelling air and fewer allergens entering the cabin. Many cabin air filters accumulate leaves and other debris that your car winds up ingesting which can lead to musty or stale odors. Ultimately, switching out your cabin air is a small expense that keeps you from inadvertently sneezing months later.

As your cabin air filter is “out of sight, out of mind”, it’s definitely a good idea to get in the habit of having it inspected and replaced regularly. What are the right intervals for you? Talk to our service department about where (and how much) you drive, and they’ll be able to suggest how often your cabin air filter should be replaced or inspected. It’s a small and affordable maintenance item that will ensure you have many miles of driving comfort ahead.

Best Places for Your Teen to Practice Driving

Kids grow up pretty fast. One minute they're playing with toy cars, and then, before you know it, they're ready to take their first driving lessons. Learning to drive is a big deal to many teens because they see the chance to get behind the wheel as the first sign that they're becoming an adult. For parents, it's not so straightforward. If your teen wants to drive, the first question you may ask is where you can help them learn safely and without any interference. If you want to help your child on his or her way to that all-important license, this simple guide from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville will help you learn about the best places for your teen to practice driving.

Many parking lots offer large, open spaces where your teen can practice driving for a good period of time. Choose parking lots that have good lighting, and where there are very few obstacles that a new driver might accidentally collide with. Remember that you are helping your teen learn on private land, which means that you need to make sure there is no risk of damage to property or vehicles. The best thing about many parking lots is that they have lots of clear markings, and wide, easy turns for new drivers to navigate. A parking lot is perfect to help your teen practice all the basic skills, and to learn how the car handles.

Make sure that you pick an appropriate time of day, particularly when your teen is taking his or her first lessons. Clearly, busy periods, when there are lots of other people or drivers around, will not make a good practice spot. Conversely, your teen may feel nervous about learning to drive when it is dark, so an early morning visit could offer the best compromise.

Once your teen has developed more confidence, you can start to take him or her out on the road for more lessons. Clearly, it's very important to choose quiet roads, where there is very little traffic, until your son or daughter gains a little more confidence. Make sure that you have a list of the skills that you want to teach during each lesson. At this stage, you should focus on visibility, coming to a full stop, driving around curves, driving uphill and other basic types of navigation. Confirm with your teen that they are ready to move on, before you start to drive on busier roads.

Choose busier roads for lessons when you are happy that your child has a good grasp of basic driving skills. On roads and highways, your teen can learn to change lanes, merge into traffic, and cope with the sequence of events at traffic lights. At this stage, you may also want to add in some more complex concepts. For example, take your teen for a lesson at night, when he or she must contend with the reduced visibility. A lesson in wet or very sunny conditions will also help test your teen's skills, and you can use a variety of different scenarios to help improve learning.

Many parents choose to send their teens on a driver's education course. A professional driving instructor can offer intensive teaching, and will normally have access to private facilities, where your teen can learn a variety of skills. These courses are not always cheap, but they are a good option for parents who are busy, or for people who live in a very busy neighborhood, where lessons on the road are almost impossible.

If you want to make sure that your kids turn into competent, reliable drivers, it's important to give them the best possible instruction. Think about the best way to help your children learn to drive, and help keep them safe on the road.