Archive for the ‘Portland Used Cars’ Category

Often, what starts out as a $25 oil change can quickly become a $225, all-day “fix this, replace that, flush that other thing” marathon. If you know the recommended intervals for changing the various fluids and filters in your vehicle, you may be able to save some money by doing those tasks yourself. Here’s what you should know before embarking on at-home vehicle maintenance.

Be Familiar with Your Vehicle Get the Chilton or Haines manual for your vehicle’s make and model. Open the hood and study what you see, compared to the book. Know the names of those parts, what they do, and how they interact. Peruse the troubleshooting section to get an idea of possible scenarios. That clanging noise could have three sources, all different from a clunking noise, which are different from a chug-chug-chug. Some of those problems are easy to fix, others require a professional’s expertise.

Check Your Rental Agreement or HOA Contract Many landlords and homeowners or neighborhood associations forbid doing any sort of car repair or maintenance in the driveway or garage of the residence. Check the legal paperwork you’ve signed, because that oil change may not be allowed unless you’ve parked in the street (and check city codes, too; on-street car repair may not be allowed in your municipality, either).

Are You Physically Able to Perform the Work? You may know, intellectually, how to change a tire or replace an air filter or install a new car battery. But if you can’t lift a tire or turn a wrench hard enough to loosen nuts and bolts, all the know-how in the world won’t fix the car. If you can’t get underneath the vehicle for whatever reason, changing your oil won’t be possible. Know your limits.

Looking for your own reliable new or pre-owned Suzuki? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

The hosts of NPR’s Car Talk have a great time getting call-in guests to describe the sounds their malfunctioning vehicles are making, but when it’s your car doing the clanking, it’s not so funny. Here are four common sounds a vehicle makes when it needs professional attention, and the most common causes for those sounds. If the bottom line is “take the car in for maintenance,” don’t be afraid to get a second or third opinion.

Clicking when you try to start it, with no turnover from the engine indicates a dead battery. You may not need a new battery; if you left the lights on overnight, or the door slightly ajar, it could simply be drained. Jump start the car and take it to a shop that will test the battery for you.

Squealing from the engine as you drive is usually coming from the drive belt. The cause can range from something as innocuous as getting wet while going through a puddle or as dangerous as a cracked belt that needs to be replaced as soon as possible. Other reasons include A/C components going bad, pulleys or ball bearings that need to be replaced, or the harmonic balancer being out of whack. In any case, it boils down to “take the car to the shop.”

Does your car sound more like an airplane than a car, especially at speeds above 25 miles per hour? The most likely reason is you have a wheel bearing that’s about to go bad. This isn’t an expensive fix, but it’s an urgent one. Bearings that stop spinning means wheels that stop spinning, and wheels that don’t spin mean accidents, potentially fatal ones.

Clunking or squeaking around turns is the result of problems with the front end. Each individual sound is associated with a specific piece of the front end, from the ball joints to the tie-rod ends to the control arms and the end links and the steering rack. A good mechanic will diagnose the specific problem after taking the vehicle for a test drive.

Looking for your own Suzuki Grand Vitara or other quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

Searching for a high-quality Suzuki vehicle? We have a wide selection of options here at Gladstone Suzuki, and we would love to help find the perfect fit for you in a pressure-free experience!

2005 Suzuki Reno, Internet Special Price $7,788

2008 Suzuki XL-7, Internet Special Price $17,988

2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara, Internet Special Price $14,856

2007 Suzuki Forenza, Internet Special Price $8,988

2007 Suzuki Reno, Internet Special Price $8,923

Looking for your own Suzuki Grand Vitara or other quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

While Oregon winters are usually mild, we aren’t strangers to snow, ice, hail, and other cold-weather hazards. Winter driving requires special attention to your vehicle, and winter weather can place any vehicle – or any driver – in an unsafe condition. Here are five tips to see you safely through the winter driving season:

Consider Purchasing Snow Tires While “all-weather” tires can suffice, purchasing high-quality winter tires might be the best thing you can do for your vehicle if you plan on being in the snow often (and you do, don’t you?). New tread patterns that are efficient on both dry pavement and snow have replaced loud, deep-treaded snow tires of the past and are definitely worth considering.

Always keep plenty of gas in the tank. You never know when you will be stuck somewhere in traffic, or stuck on the mountain in the snow. Your gas mileage may drop during winter, because there is more stop-and-go driving, because the roads are slicker, and because your vehicle may operate at a lower temperature. Unless your engine is running rough or the check engine light is on, a small decline in miles per gallon is normal. To keep your miles per gallon at their best, and to drive safely, watch your tire pressure. Most manufacturers do not recommend that you change the inflation during the winter. When in doubt, consult your owners’ manual.

Check Your Tire Pressure Monthly This is crucial throughout the winter months. Cold weather can mean significant drops in your tire pressure and a threat to not only your fuel economy, but also your safety. Establish one day each month to ensure you are keeping up with the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle – doing so can prevent major problems down the road.

Learn how to use your 4-wheel drive or anti-lock brakes ahead of time. Consider practicing in an empty parking lot. This is particularly important when you buy an unfamiliar vehicle. Anti-lock brakes cause a unique shudder and noise from the brake pedal. This is normal. They usually don’t even activate unless you stomp down on the brake pedal hard and fast. Try it. That way it won’t be so scary when you experience this in a panic situation. 4-wheel drive now has several configurations depending on the make and model of the vehicle. If yours is one that you have to activate, learn how yours works before you need it. For most vehicles, it should not be used on dry pavement, which can bind up the drive train.

Don’t pour hot water on a frozen car. It can cause your windshield to crack. Plan a few extra minutes to allow the interior of your car to warm up and defrost the windshield, or place an old rubber mat over your windshield before you go to bed at night.

Looking for your own cold-weather ready new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

Searching for a top-rated SUV to handle this Oregon snow? We have a wide selection of options here at Gladstone Suzuki, and we would love to help find the perfect fit for you in a pressure-free experience!

2007 Toyota Highlander $20,900

2008 Ford Escape Hybrid $14,995

2007 Chevrolet Tahoe LS $20,857

2005 GMC Yukon Denali $21,977

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser S $21,999

Looking for your own Suzuki Grand Vitara or other quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.