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We’ve all heard it before, it’s time for an oil change every 5,000-miles. However, not all of us stop in to get our engine oil topped off or changed. Whether the reasoning is time, money, or whatever else is going on, giving your Volkswagen the TLC it deserves is important, especially during the winter months. It’s no secret the cold weather can be harsh on your vehicle, which is why keeping an eye on what’s going on under the hood is important. We all know that the engine is the heart of your vehicle and making sure that it runs smoothly is the best way to minimize issues. One of the easiest ways to keep your engine running smoothly is to make sure that your engine’s oil is clean. Below you will find step-by-step instructions and we recommend you check once a month. If you find yourself needing an oil change, give us a call or schedule an appointment online, and leave it to the skilled professionals here at Fiore VW! Checking Oil: How To Open the hood. Prop it so it stays open. Locate the oil dipstick next to the engine. It should have a yellow handle and/or be labeled. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it on a clean cloth or paper towel. Dip the stick all the way back in. Pull it out again and look at the oil level. If it’s in the middle of the hatched/indicated area, you’re good. More is better, less is okay, but if you’re lower than the recommended amount you’ll need to get your oil topped up and have your system checked for leaks. Look at the oil quality and color. If there are a lot of particles or if the oil looks sludgy, you need to get it changed as soon as possible. Put the dipstick back in. Close your hood. Schedule Your Oil Change Now!

Back to school season is upon us and while you or your child runs around to check off your back to school checklist, your friends at Fiore Volkswagen want to remind you not to forget about your vehicle. I know what you’re thinking, why my vehicle? Well, after a busy summer of running around, it’s important to give your vehicle the TLC it deserves. Nothing will put a damper on your school year like a costly breakdown or repair. To help avoid that from happening, this week’s blog is dedicated to eight helpful car care tips for your ride! Take a look below, and get started on your back to school maintenance! Need help with your service? Schedule a service appointment with us now and we can get your vehicle serviced in no time! Looking to upgrade to a new reliable vehicle? Shop our available inventory now and schedule a test drive today! Pack an emergency kit just in case It’s never a bad idea to be prepared! Items you’ll want to keep in your car in case of trouble include a flashlight, tire repair kit, first aid items, a basic tool kit (lug wrench, screwdriver, hammer), jumper cables, hazard triangle, a blanket, and even a small amount of cash. Take a peek at your lights. Headlight or taillight out? Lights out on your vehicle are very dangerous. A burned-out headlight can impair your ability to see the road clearly, increasing the risk of a flat tire or accident. While a burnt-out taillight can make it hard to see you. Simply turn your lights on while the car is in park, and walk around the entire vehicle to make sure your headlights, rear lights, blinkers, and hazards are functioning properly. Not only will this keep you safe, but it will keep you from getting a pulled over/ a ticket. If you need replacement, just schedule a service appointment today. CH-CH-CHARGE IT UP Don’t find yourself getting out of a class only to find your battery has died. If your car is sluggish to start or if the dashboard lights or radio are giving you trouble, it may be a sign you need a new battery. Batteries only last three to five years, so if you’ve had yours a long time, it’s probably time for a new one. If you find you need a replacement, your mechanic can test your battery during routine maintenance and oil changes. Top off all the fluids Regular oil changes are a must, but that isn’t the only fluid you should be keeping an eye on in your vehicle. Keep an eye out for transmission, brakes, coolants, and more. Clean fluids help your engine run smoothly, while dirty fluids can cause damage. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated Improper tire pressure can cause you to get fewer miles per gallon? It can also increase wear and tear, resulting in a need to replace the tires sooner than normal, and becoming very costly. To keep your tires in tip-top shape, keep a tire gauge in your car and check the pressure monthly. Check for wear and tear by utilizing the “penny test” by inserting an upside-down penny in the tread groove. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to get new tires. Take a break and get your brakes checked It’s no secret that your brakes are a crucial part of your drive. Worn brakes can make it hard to stop quickly and can cause your car to travel farther before coming to a halt — making it more likely you’ll find yourself in an accident. To avoid that, a professional mechanic should check your vehicle’s brakes regularly, preferably as part of a routine maintenance check performed during regular oil changes. Don’t forget your wipers You don’t want to be driving down the highway, and go to use your wipers and have no washer fluid! Your windshield wiper fluid needs to be topped off to ensure you have good visibility in poor weather. Wiper blades need regular replacement too, usually every six to twelve months. Check your seatbelts—and wear them. Buckle up and stay safe this school year. Simply wearing a properly fitted seat belt saves thousands of lives each year. It’s one of the most effective ways to avoid serious injury in an accident. Airbags alone are not enough to protect you. Make sure your seatbelt is secured tightly across the pelvis and rib cage. Schedule Your Service Today!

As we get closer and closer to summer the weather just keeps getting nicer and nicer. We are sure lots of you are planning your next getaways, whether they be near or far if you’ll be driving to your destination this summer it might be a good idea to get your vehicle ready before hitting the road. I know what you’re thinking...why do I have to prepare my vehicle for a road trip? Well, although many of us just hop in our vehicles and go, that doesn’t mean we should. Our vehicles are hardworking pieces of equipment and if we don’t give them the TLC they deserve the chances that they break down on us are more likely, and nothing will put a damper on your trip quite like that! So take a few minutes and check out our tips for preparing your vehicle for your next getaway. And be sure to schedule a tune-up appointment with us or stop in today and we can get your vehicle ready for your road trip in no time! Before Hitting The Road Be Sure To Check... Top off fluid levels Change air filters Detail and clean out vehicle Place small garbage bags throughout your vehicle to keep control of the mess Change spark plugs Check the tire pressure for both the spare tire and the ones on the vehicle Make sure you have a tire iron and jack in case of a popped tire Bring towels for cleaning dirty windows, spills, etc. Bring a spare key in case you lock your keys in the car Make sure your owner’s manual is in the vehicle Emergency kit/first aid kit Service Your Ride Here!

Spring has sprung and it is officially time to start your spring cleaning if you have not done so yourself yet. Once you’ve taken the time to clean out your interior, it’s time to show your exterior some love. Plus, when your car is looking fresh, you’re feeling fresh! But many of don’t know that there is actually proper steps that you need to take in order to wash your vehicle properly, and if you don’t you could cause some serious damage to your car’s exterior. So take a few minutes to check out our helpful tips below and get ready to roll up your sleeves because we are washin’ away winter and scrubbing our way into spring! Step 1: Fill a clean bucket with water and soap, choose a car shampoo that won’t strip your vehicle’s wax and provide lubrication for grimy particles. *If you notice swirl marks when you wash your car, try filling two buckets, one with soap and one without. Before you dunk your sponge for more soap, dunk it into the bucket of clean, non-soapy water. This is cleaning your sponge of the dirt and grime that you just took off your car and will help prevent swirl marks.* Step 2: Rinse your car, make sure you get those pesky, hard-to-reach spots too. This will get rid of loose dirt and grime and ultimately make washing your car a little less of a hassle. When rinsing your vehicle, wash top to bottom opposed to front to back. Suds up your car, rinse and repeat. Instead of a sponge, wash mitts are a great option. For pesky spots, like grime or bugs, try a spot cleaner that will help remove the stuck-on mess. Step 3: Drying your vehicle after washing is extremely important, it makes all your hard work worth it. Using a clean microfiber cloth, dry windows and mirrors first, then move to bigger surfaces like your hood, doors, and trunk. Don’t forget door jams or any hard-to-reach spots. Lastly, dry your wheels and tires. Step 4: A spray wax or sealant can help rejuvenate the shine on your vehicle. Schedule Your Service Today!

April is already halfway done and if you haven’t serviced your ride there is no better time than now to do so! Why you might ask? Well, April is National Car Care month, and participating in it might not be a bad idea, especially after the harsh winter your vehicle experienced! It’s no surprise that we’re going to tell you again how important it is to service and maintain your vehicle, but it is so true! If you don’t service your vehicle because you don’t want to spend money, you will more than likely spend money on repairs that could have been prevented by servicing your vehicle in the first place. Last week I told you about our April service specials, which means it’s time to SAVE while you service! If you missed out on last week’s blog, no biggie, just head over to our site and check out our blog section or just head over to our service specials page and you can view and print out whichever service works best for you. So, don’t let your ride take a backseat this spring and check out our service checklist below! Be sure to check off all the boxes to make sure your ride is ready to keep the good times rolling! If there is any maintenance below that you don’t feel you can complete yourself, be sure to print out one of our service coupons and head on in today! Car Care Tips For Spring: Check those fluid levels, all of them! From engine oil, power steering, brake, and transmission fluids...oh and don’t forget the windshield wiper fluid and antifreeze/coolant! Take a peek at your hoses and belts to make use they haven’t been cracked due to cold weather and wear and tear. Check your battery to make sure the connection is clean, tight, and corrosion-free. Make sure to get your ride an oil change and have the brake linings, rotors, and drums inspected. Often overlooked, but important; be sure to check your exhaust system for leaks and damaged or broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise. Tune it up with a tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy Check the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as proper heating and cooling performance is critical for safety reasons and interior comfort in the spring/summer months Inspect the steering and suspension system Check your tire pressure and tread depth to see if it’s time for a new set. Also keep an eye out for uneven tread wear, which indicates that your vehicle needs a wheel alignment. Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen Let Us Service Your Ride, And Save!

Spring is here and it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to some good old spring cleaning done. I’m sure you have a long to-do list that includes your yard, your house, and everything in between. But we are here to remind you to not forget about your vehicle! Making sure your vehicle is in shape for spring is important for your vehicle’s health and your safety. Take a few minutes to check out our spring cleaning checklist for your ride below! If you’re in need of assistance or you don’t have time to do this work yourself, just schedule an appointment with us and our professionals will have your ride ready to go in no time! Remove the winter tires This might be an obvious one, but many of us live fast-paced lives and we either forget or put it off as long as we can. But the truth is, leaving your winter tires on during the whole year can actually cause a lot of damage and even be dangerous. Once it looks like the coast is clear and we won’t be getting any more snow, set a day to change out your tire. Wash car’s exterior Wash and wax your vehicle’s exterior to get rid of dust, dirt, and salt that has built up during the winter. Don’t forget to clean the tires, headlights and underneath for a full cleaning! If you’re not one to roll up your sleeves, no problem! A full-service car wash will do the same and usually isn’t too much money. Clean the trunk Our truck is basically our closet on the go. We tend to throw a lot of useless stuff in there and then when we need to use it, we find that there is no room. Well, it’s time to rip off the bandaid and take everything out. Yes, I mean everything! Make a keep and throwout pile, whatever you don’t need in your vehicle be sure to bring it inside and not to put it back in your trunk. Make some space for new things and don’t forget to shake the trunk carpet liner. Clean the interior Don’t have a clean exterior and a messy interior, it’s dangerous to have your floors covered in clutter and you’ll feel better when your vehicle is cleaned up. You should also check under the seats and vacuum all the dirt and dried salt. Don’t ignore your vehicle’s seats. Make sure you don’t use any chemicals, which can cause damage, and rub the seats with a wet cloth instead. For more info on what to use, just check your owner’s manual. Look under the hood Under the hood is where the heart of your vehicle lives. Make sure that it is clean and nothing is trapped inside is important. A clean engine prolongs the life of your engine as well as prevents any further mechanical issues. Clean your engine components with soap and water and be sure to wipe down your engine till it’s dry. Never work under the hood in the engine is hot! Service Your Ride For Spring Here!

If you don’t live under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that it is starting to get a little chilly out and by a little, I mean a lot! Cold weather can have negative effects on your car, especially your vehicle’s battery. Making sure your battery is strong enough to make it through the cold winter weather is important, I mean, you don’t want to end up stuck on the side of the road in freezing cold, right? Yeah, we didn’t think so! So, do yourself a favor and check your battery’s life or bring it to us and we will check for you! If you find that your battery needs to be replaced and you’re a DIY kind of person, we’ve done the hard work and listed out an extensive how-to below! Check it out, and if you have any questions feel free to give us a call! If you feel this is too big of a task for you, we suggest scheduling an appointment with our service center and we will do it for you! Check the owner’s manual for the location of your battery or simply pop open the hood and take a look. More often than not, the battery will stick out and you’ll notice it right away. Identify the positive posts from the negative. Positive posts/cables are often red and have a plus sign on it. Negative posts/cables are often black and have a negative sign. Using a wrench, loosen the bolt that has secured the negative terminal and cable to the negative post. Once the bolt is loose, pull the cable away from the post and set off to the side out of the way. Repeat with the positive terminal. Remove the clamp or whatever may be holding the battery in the holding tray. Carefully, lift the battery out of the tray and take note that it will be heavy. If you notice corrosion to the battery cables, terminals, holding a tray, or posts, use a wire brush and anti-corrosive cleaning solution. Make sure that all parts are dry before replacing the battery. Insert the new battery into the holding tray and secure it once more with the clamp. Remove the plastic covers that cover battery posts and install anti-corrosion washers over them. Apply a thin layer of grease to posts and terminals before connecting the positive terminal to the positive post first. Use a wrench to tighten the connector until snug and repeat for the negative terminal. Give the battery a wiggle. If it moves, you need to tighten the clamp to ensure that the battery is not able to move when you’re driving along the roadway. Click Here And We Will Do The Hard Work For You!

Summertime is almost here, like seriously, it is right around the corner. And what better way to kick off summer than a little DIY interior detailing for your VW that you love oh so much! Maybe you forgot to do the whole spring clean thing or you’re not sure entirely where to start - well, we got your back. Our blog this week is dedicated to detailing the interior of your vehicle. Check out our guide below! Get rid of any dirt, debris, or dust that has built up, using a vacuum and baby wipes, clean out your vents, wipe down your dash, seats, center console, and doors with a microfiber cloth and a cleaning solution. Vacuum your floor mats and the crevices in your seats - things tend to build up here. *Expert tip! Try using Q-Tips for the nooks and crannies. Carpets get real dirty, give them a wash-down. Floor mats are known for harboring moisture, dirt, mud, and all other nasties. Once you remove your mats, wash them using a foaming carpet cleaner. Work the foam over the carpet using a back-and-forth motion. When you decide your carpets are clean, twist a microfiber cloth into the carpets to remove any leftover foam, allow your mats to dry and finish off with another quick vacuum. Clean those windows!!!! Take glass cleaner and a plush microfiber cloth and give your windows a bath. Front, back, Windshield - make sure to show TLC to all of your windows. Clean your windows using a straight-line stroke,  no circles. You may want to pass over your windows a few times for a perfectly clean look. If there are any leftover streaks, use a microfiber cloth to remove them. Seats need love too! In order to clean your vehicle’s seats, you will need an all-purpose concentrate. Try looking for one that is pre-mixed with water and comes in a spray bottle. When you’re ready, spray a generous amount of cleaner onto your seat and using a microfiber cloth, wipe in circular motions to loosen debris. If you have tough, pesky stains - spray the clean again and gently scrub the surface with an all-purpose scrubbing pad and wipe clean with the microfiber cloth. And there you have it! A guide to detailing your vehicle’s interior - let us know what tips and tricks have worked for you. New VW’s Are Clean From The Start

Getting your car serviced is different from getting regular maintenance done. I am just going to preface this blog with that. Essentially, maintenance is what you get regularly done on your vehicle to make sure it stays in fighting form. Maintenance is something that’s scheduled - like an oil change - whereas service is when you need something specific fixed or tuned up that’s outside of your regular maintenance schedule. It’s a really tiny distinction but it’s important. If you don’t get regular maintenance on your vehicle, you’ll probably have to get it serviced more, and those services will be more expensive than normal. Maintenance of your car works the same way as taking care of your body - if you take your vitamins regularly, eat healthy, exercise, and take care of yourself, you won’t have to go to the doctor’s as often, and you’re at a lower risk of getting a disease or serious illness. The same applies to cars! You should stick to a regular maintenance plan because making sure you get your oil changes, tire rotations, and other inspections done regularly means that you won’t have to get things fixed as often. Talk to us here at Fiore VW about your maintenance schedule. With the Volkswagen Care Maintenance Plan, you won’t even have to think about scheduling maintenance on your vehicle - we’ll help figure out when is best for your vehicle, and all you have to do is bring it into the shop. Check it out! And remember - regular maintenance saves money, time, and heartache! Service For Less At Fiore Volkswagen

Have you ever been driving down the road at night and thought to yourself, “I thought my headlights were brighter than that”? Well, chances are, they were brighter than that before but now because of the amount you’ve driven and the age of your car, they might have dulled a bit. There are a bunch of simple solutions to this problem that are very easy to take care of at home, and you’ll notice a change in the brightness of your headlights the next time you’re driving in the dark! First, just take some window cleaner and a soft cloth to your headlights. The problem might only be that they’re dirty and need some TLC - this is the easiest answer and easiest solution. If this doesn’t work out, however, you might have to put in a little more elbow grease. So, you’ve cleaned your headlights and they still seem dim. You might have to go to the auto parts store and get a headlight reconditioning kit. This is a simple kit that lets you clean your headlights a little bit more by buffing out any dirt or UV damage, as well as scratches and divots from road debris. This is definitely a little more difficult than just washing your headlights, but hopefully, you should see a difference. If they are STILL dim, you might have to replace the bulbs in your headlights. This involves going to your auto parts store and buying some replacement capsules - your owner’s manual will tell you exactly what type of capsules your vehicle needs. If they’re halogen, you can upgrade them to either a brighter halogen capsule or a drop-in LED capsule. This will really make a difference in the brightness of your lights, but make sure you are doing the replacement correctly. This isn’t super hard, but if you’re hesitant to try it yourself, come to Fiore Volkswagen and we’ll take care of it for you. If you’ve tried all of these options and your headlights are still dim, you should have a professional take a look at your alternator. Dimming headlights can be indicative of a dying alternator - especially if your headlights brighten when you accelerate and dim when you’re slowing down. We hope these tips have been helpful to you! Happy trails! We’ll Help You Shine At Fiore Volkswagen