Page 14 - AAA Northampton County – AAA Now! – Winter 2016

AAA
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AUTO SERVICES
WINTER DRIVING: GET TO YOUR DESTINATION SAFELY
Winter driving conditions can be tough on both motorists and vehicles. For starters, there are fewer daylight hours and a greater chance of encountering rainy or foggy weather. And if you live in northern portions of the United States or visit the mountains, you’ll probably have to deal with snow, ice, and slush.
All these things can make driving more stressful and can also increase your risk of a crash, especially if you haven’t kept up the maintenance on your car or prepped it properly for winter weather. To help you and your car make it safely through winter weather, the AAA’s Automotive Research Center (ARC) advises that you take extra precautions and follow these cold-weather driving and car-care tips.
Stay in the Know – Before you hit the road, check radio, TV and online weather reports so you can avoid traffic congestion and crashes. Continue to monitor radio traffic reports while in your car. Sirius/XM satellite radio offers 24-hour traffic and weather updates for many U.S. Metropolitan regions.
Charge! – Cold weather is tough on batteries. At 0o F, for instance, a car's battery loses about 60 percent
of its strength. Even at 32o F, it is 35 percent weaker than normal. Before winter, have a qualified automo- tive technician perform a load test on your battery to make sure it's strong enough for winter starts.
Get a grip – Be sure your car’s tires can handle the winter weather in your region. First, check that the tread is deep enough (1/16th-inch minimum); sufficient tread depth allows water to escape and improves traction. Next, be sure to keep tires at proper pressure.
See and be seen – To paraphrase an old saying, what you don’t know – or can’t see – can hurt you. Driving with a snow-covered or fogged-up wind- shield, windows, side-view mirrors or lights invites a crash. Use an ice scraper, brush, or spray deicer to clear snow-covered windows, mirrors, and lights.
Make certain, too, that your windshield wipers and defroster are in good working order and that the windsheild-washer reservoir is filled with nonfreezing washer fluid. Many state laws require that you turn on your headlights whenever you are using your windshield wipers.
Keep your engine cool – Make sure the antifreeze in your car’s cooling system is mixed with an equal portion of water for maximum protection against freezing and overheating.
Key solution – If your door locks are frozen, you can open them by carefully heating the end of your car key with a match or lighter, or by applying a squirt of
deicer spray to the lock assembly. To prevent damage, do not heat keys that contain electronics in the grip.
Slippery when wet – In temperatures around 32o F,
a thin layer of water can cover ice on the road, making it even more slippery. For example, the distance needed to stop on ice at 32o F is twice as long as it is at 0o F. So slow down and use extra caution when passing other vehicles in icy conditions.
Steer clear – If you’re going 25 mph or faster on a wet or icy road, steer around an object on the road to avoid hitting it rather than braking hard. On a slippery surface it takes less distance to steer around an object than to brake to a stop. And because sudden braking in bad weather often leads to skids, increase the following distance between you and the cars in front of you – the extra distance provides a buffer in case you lose control of your vehicle.
Finish up – Road salt, slush and grime are especially hard on a car’s finish. To help prevent rust and paint damage, keep your car washed and waxed.
Traveling in winter can be dangerous, but by being prepared, performing proper vehicle maintenance and driving carefully you can minimize the risks and arrive safely at your destination.
AAA APPROVED AUTO REPAIR & AAA APPROVED AUTO BODY
Present your AAA membership card for these benefits: • Free maintenance inspection when your vehicle is serviced
• Written estimate of cost
• 24-month/24,000-mile nationwide warranty on parts and labor • Dispute resolution
• 10% discount (up to $50) on regularly priced parts and labor
Alex’s Tire Center, Inc.
102 Commerce Way, Stockertown (610) 759-8473 • 1-10
Brown Daub Collision
1650 Butler St., Easton (610) 253-1672 • 1-12
Car-Doc, Inc.
4982 E. Valley Dr., Walnutport (610) 767-7110 • 1-10
Easton Auto Body
1328 Elm St., Easton
(610) 252-6502 • 1-10, 1-12
Jeff’s Automotive Service
4110 Wm. Penn Hwy., Easton (610) 253-6565 • 1-9
Midas Auto Svc. Experts
2914 Wm. Penn Hwy., Easton (610) 253-9070 • 1-6, 8-9
Midas Auto Svc. Experts
933 S. Broadway, Wind Gap (610) 863-7777 • 1-10
Murante Auto Repair
128 W. Beil Ave., Nazareth (610) 759-6121 • 1-10
Paul’s Garage
219 W. Northampton St., Bath (610) 837-9877 • 1-10
T&D Automotive
1400 S. 25th St., Easton (610) 253-0212 • 1-10
The Brake Shop & Auto Repair
3601 Sullivan Trail, Easton (610) 253-2566 • 1-9
Weddes Auto Center
450 Monocacy Dr., Bath (610) 837-6411 • 1-10
Young VW Mazda
Rte. 33 & Hecktown Rd., Easton (610) 991-9100 • 1-10, 1-12
Red indicates Approved Auto Body facility. Blue indicates BOTH Approved Auto Repair and Approved Auto Body facility.
Scopes of Service
1 - Engine performance 2 - Minor engine repair 3 - Brake service
4 - Electrical systems
5 - Tires, steering, suspension 6 - Heating, air conditioning 7 - Major engine repair
8 - Automatic transmission
9 - Manual transmission 10 - Diesel engine
Scopes of Service
1 - Collision repairs
2 - Frame repair
3 - Direct repair provider
4 - Total paint replacement
5 - Paintless dent repair
6 - Glass replacement
7 - Glass repairs
8 - Restorations
9 - Vinyl & soft roof replacement 10 - Corrosion protection
11 - Upholstery repair
12 - Auto detailing
3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA • (610) 258-2371 • www.aaanc.com
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WINTER 2016
Thank you for choosing AAA
To show our appreciation, you can redeem this coupon and receive $10 off a AAA Battery. That’s right! AAA now offers a Battery Service Program which features the following benefits:
• Free, expert battery testing
• Quick battery installation, at your request
• A high-quality AAA battery at a members-only discount
• An unmatched 72-month limited warranty
(including 36 months free nationwide replacement
against manufacturer's defects)
• Free recycling of your old battery
Valid only for AAA Northampton County members. Offer expires 2/29/2016. To redeem this coupon, please call 610-258-2808.
$10 OFF
Now!