Happy New Year!

We hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday!

Winter Driving Tips

Are you traveling over the holidays?  Winter Weather can make traveling dangerous this time of year.  Make sure to do these checks on your car and be careful when driving through a snow storm.  You can learn more about winter driving tips below and at Pittsburgh Insurance.

  


Prepare for winter driving before a storm hits:

•  Have a mechanic check your car’s battery, brakes, fluid levels (antifreeze, windshield washer fluid and oil), as well as the heating and exhaust systems to ensure that your car is in good, safe working condition.
• Try to keep your gas tank full during the winter months. Don’t allow the gas to go below half a tank. Not only will this prevent damage from freezing, you’ll avoid running out of gas if you’re stuck in a traffic jam during the dead of winter.
• Install snow tires or all-weather radials with adequate treads.
• An adequate supply of windshield washing liquid is critical to wash away the mud and melted snow that can severely limit visibility.
• Prepare for an emergency. Keep blankets, flares, a sack of sand for traction, shovel, windshield scraper and brush, tool kit, towrope, booster cables and a flashlight with extra batteries in your trunk. You should also stock your car with material for survival, such as waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water, a first aid kit, dry clothing and a brightly colored cloth (to tie to the antenna).

 When driving under adverse winter conditions

• Take care pulling out of streets blocked by mountains of snow. It’s often difficult to see who or what is coming.
• Back your car into the driveway so you have better vision when pulling out.
• Be aware of joggers on the street. Often sidewalks are impassable and die-hard joggers venture onto the street for a clearer path. Unfortunately, they may not see icy spots or other hazards hidden below the slush.
• Don’t turn corners too tightly.
• If your car does not have anti-lock brakes and you start skidding on the ice, try not to slam on your brakes. Gently pump your brakes to maintain better control and prevent your wheels from locking.
• If your car does have anti-lock brakes, slam on your brakes when skidding on the ice. Pumping your breaks prevents the anti-lock system from taking over.

 Traveling during a severe storm
 Travel only if necessary during a blizzard or severe storm. If you must travel:

• Don’t travel alone. Notify someone of your estimated time of arrival as well as your primary and alternate travel routes.
• If STUCK, stay in the car and wait for help. Run the engine and heater sparingly. Also make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow and ventilate your car so that carbon monoxide fumes won’t poison you.
• Keep your energy. Eat food that provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Replenish your body with fluids to prevent dehydration. Don’t eat snow; it will lower your body temperature. Melt it first.

Get That Salt Off Your Car

Have you washed the ice off your car yet?  Make sure to take these nice days to get the dangerous rock salt off you car.  It is great for the roads, but it can damage the paint on your car.  You can learn more here.

Wash Your Car

This winter we want to remind you to wash your cars as soon as it warms up to an above-freezing temperature. You’ll know it’s safe because lines at the car washes will start forming, as careful vehicle owners know how important it is to keep the exterior of the car free of salt. And even if you’re someone who hates to wait in line, find some way to rinse off the salt that’s stuck to the sides of your car. Try to wash your car during the day, so that if the temperature drops at night, you’ll be sure to avoid frozen doors and locks.

It’s important to remove the salt from your car for both mechanical and resale value reasons. Mechanically, salt can cause corrosion and rust damage, and especially to the undercarriage of your vehicle. This could result in costly repairs and damage of your vehicle. Cosmetically, salt can also create rust around the tires, fender and doors, and cause exterior paint to chip away. It’s especially important to prevent this when thinking about your car’s resale value. Vehicles with rust, paint chips and exterior damage will not be resold for the same value as cars that have been well maintained and kept clean.

Preventing Rock Salt Damage

One suggestion for preventing damage from rock salt is to wax your vehicle before the winter months hit. This will help put a polish on your car that prevents damage. Also, make sure to continually inspect your car and touch up any paint chips. Try to rinse off your car every 10 days, as the weather allows.

While You’re At it, Vacuum your Car, too.

While you’re working on keeping the exterior salt-free, run the vacuum through the interior of your car, too. When you keep the inside AND outside of your vehicle clean, it helps protect your investment and increase your resale value. Cars that have been properly maintained and repaired are often sold for much higher prices.

Salt: great for the roads, bad for your car. Make sure to wash the salt off of your car as soon as possible.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Mr. Magic Family!

Happy Halloween!

It is Halloween!  What are you dressing up as?  We hope everyone a has a great Halloween!

Fun Family Day in the South Hills

Check out this great event on Saturday from noon to 4pm.  South Park is having a hay day.  There are activities for all ages.  Hay rides, hay maze, and pumpkin patches are just some of the things that you and your family can enjoy.  You can find out more at Living Pittsburgh.

South Park Hay Day

Event: South Park Hay Day Location: South Park Fairgrounds, South Park Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013 Time: Noon until 4pm Cost: Free Description:   Kids of all ages will enjoy Fall fun activities: hay rides, pony rides, petting zoo, music, arts and crafts, “I made it!” Market, “Books are Fun” Book fair, and food vendors. For a full list of participants and activities, visit the Allegheny County website.
Full list of free activities:
-Hay Rides
-Hay Maze
-Pumpkin Patch
-Pumpkin Decorating
-Barnyard Petting Zoo & Pony Rides
-Face Painting
-Trackless Train
-Castle Bounce and Giant Slide
-Balloon Art
-Allegheny County Fire Truck
-Spooky Caricatures
-Halloween Puppet Show

Pedestrian/Vehicle Laws

Do you know what your laws are as a driver compared to those as a pedestrian?  Check out this great info graphic from Edgar Snyder to learn more.

Car Tips for Going Back to College

Do you know someone taking a car back to college soon?  Check out these steps on how to get your car ready for the trip back.  You can learn more at AllState.

Back-to-school time can be very busy for students and parents alike. One item not usually on the top of to-do lists is car care maintenance. Whether they’re attending high school or heading off to college, this can be an opportune time to conduct a maintenance review to help get your student’s car ready for the school season. Consider this car care checklist to help get your student—and their car—ready for a great school year.

Check the vitals under the hood. To help prevent maintenance issues or potentially costly repairs, mechanics suggest opening the hood of your vehicle and checking the following:
Fluid levels of engine oil, coolant and transmission, and brake and power steering fluid—your owner’s manual will illustrate where everything is located and the proper levels to maintain.
Battery
Date of the battery (located on top). Consumer Reports suggests that you have your battery checked if it’s more than two to three years old and your car’s entire charging system checked once a year.

Check the tires. Check the tires for uneven tread wear, nails or other potential hazards. Road &Travel magazine says one easy way to check tread depth is inserting a penny into a groove—if any part of Abe Lincoln’s head is obscured, you have enough tread. Check the pressure on each tire with a gauge when they’re cold (not driven).Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s suggested pressure, which is located on most vehicles on a sticker inside the driver’s door, center console, glove compartment lid or in the owner’s manual. Also, make sure the spare tire is inflated and a jack, lug wrench and jumper cables are in the trunk.

Check the lights. This is a good time to get your teen involved in the preventive maintenance checklist review. Have him or her get in the car and turn on the headlights, turn signals and emergency flashing lights as you walk around the vehicle to make sure they are working. Check the brake lights by having him or her press the brake pedal, too.

Find local resources for students going away. Maintenance issues still can occur despite your preventive maintenance efforts, so it’s wise to identify resources near campus. Find a trusted mechanic or local dealership that services your type of vehicle, as well as a tire store. If your driver is college-bound, the university itself can be helpful, too, so touch base with its parking services or safety department. They may have suggestions for local car services and can offer helpful services themselves. For example, the University of Louisville has a Motorist Assistance Program that offers 24/7 help on campus for things like a dead battery, flat tire or empty gas tank.

Check Your Car Before Your Road Trip

Are you going on a road trip anytime soon?  Check out this blog about how to prepare your car for any long drive you may take.  You can find out more about road trip preparation at Wheels.



Prepare your vehicle. There are four fundamental things to be sure of before you leave: tire pressures, oil, coolant and brake fluid. Most everything else can be inspected en route, but check these before rolling away.



Your tire pressures should be checked when the tires are still cold (recommended pressures will be printed in the vehicles handbook, or on a sticker in the door jamb). Once you’re rolling, the tires will heat up and the air inside them will expand and give an incorrectly high reading. You want them to be at their recommended pressures in order to maximize their life, the handling of your vehicle, and your fuel consumption.



Your oil level should be checked before leaving because it’s the simplest and most basic way to ensure the vehicle is properly maintained. If you find the level is down, top it up and take the rest of the oil container with you, as you may have to top up again.



Check the coolant level before the car starts running, because it’s a lot more pleasant to top it up when the engines cold than when its hot. And if you let it get too hot, the engine can be severely damaged. The same goes for checking the level of brake fluid in the reservoir, which can be done by sight but is too important to not monitor regularly.



Avoid getting your vehicle serviced before immediately starting out. Try to drive locally for a day or two to be sure that everything was tightened and replaced properly. There are too many tales of loose nuts and broken wires to be ignored.

Free Car Wash!

Do you want a free car wash?  Did you know that in order to win all you have to do is click?  Mr. Magic is having a great instant win promotion.  Every month five people will win a free car wash.  However, even if you lose you still get a discount coupon for a car wash!  This means that no matter what you are a winner!

There is no catch.  All you have to do is go to the tabs on the Mr. Magic Facebook page.  You will see a blue box that says Instant Win.  Follow the instructions and see if you are a winner!

It's that easy.  We hope you are a winner, and we hope to see you at Mr. Magic soon!

Happy Fourth of July!

We hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July!  Make sure to check out our instant win contest this week!  There are some great prizes that will make your fourth even better!

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Kick Off Rallye

The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is fast approaching, and you can start celebrating with a Rallye in Pittsburgh.  The Kick-Off Rallye will be Sunday July 7th.   It is a giant scavenger hunt on wheels throughout the city.  You can find out more details by reading the blog below or visiting the Kick-Off Rallye website.



Kick-Off Rallye

Sunday July 7, 2013
Our Kick-Off Rallye is truly the kick-off event of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. It’s like a scavenger hunt on wheels. Your score is determined by how close you can follow directions and stay within posted speed limits and reach the finish line. You also need to answer some trivia questions along the way. No experience is necessary, just have fun. For details email Paul MacIntyre or phone at 412 673-0998 (home).

Register and Pay Online with Credit Card

Download PDF Entry Form - 2013 Rallye Form

The Rallye begins on South Craig Street in Oakland, between 5th Avenue and Forbes Avenue, and ends at the Spaghetti Warehouse at the corner of 26th Street & Smallman Street in the Strip District. Where it goes in between is anybody’s guess!


Spaghetti Warehouse

The Spaghetti Warehouse in the Strip District hosts our Rallye Party. After you complete the Rallye everyone gathers in the large dining room for dinner, drinks and prizes. Anyone that attended the last two years can attest to the great Italian feast prepared for us. Spaten Beer will provide complimentary adult beverages. The Spaghetti Warehouse…serving the kind of Italian food that everyone loves to eat!

- See more at: http://www.pvgp.org/rallye/#sthash.w7oWeSnd.dpuf

Road Trip Tips

Are you going on a road trip this summer? Make sure to follow these steps before you put the pedal to the metal. These eight tips can make sure you have the best road trip possible.

1
1

Check the fluids in your car. Checking the oil, coolant and brake fluid levels may help you avoid an accident or an unnecessary breakdown.

2

Check your air pressure. These should be printed in the owners manual or a sticker on the body where the drivers door shuts. The pressure marked on the side of the tire is the max which must not be exceeded. Also, don't forget to check your spare tire pressure. Often neglected, not doing so will turn a bad time into a worse one if unusable.

3

If it is almost time to get the oil changed, do it before you leave. A long trip can put additional stress on your motor. Also don't think that adding extra oil by yourself will work like an oil change, because that does not get rid of the sludge from old used oil. You may not realize this due to the fact that your continuously adding new cleaner oil which makes it appear as if its clean oil.

4

Check your tire wear by using a penny or tread gauge. Tires heat up on long trips which can cause blowouts on worn out tires.

5

Check your car's air filter. A plentiful supply of clean air to your engine improves it performance.

6

Wash your car. At the minimum, clean the windows of your car for the best visibility.

7

Check to be certain that all lights and signals are functional on your car. You will need the help of another person for this. Sit in the car, turn on each light or signal and ask your friend to tell you if it is working or not. Replace bulbs as necessary. Note: occasionally, lights may not work because a fuse needs replacing.

8

Ensure that you have all emergency equipment inside your car, and that everything works properly. Emergency equipment includes, an up-to-date map, cell phone, spare tires and emergency tools.Though usually absent; flares, flashlights, medical kits and fire extinguishers may come in handy in worse-case scenarios.

Original Article Here: http://www.wikihow.com/Check-Your-Car-Before-a-Road-Trip