Battery Care and Symptoms from Ohio's Battery Experts

Your car's battery is one of the most important parts of the vehicle, without it all other vehicle components would not matter. One common misconception about your battery is that extremely cold temperatures are the main "killer" of your battery. While this may be true, there is also sufficient evidence that suggests hot summer months do just as much damage to the internal components of an acid based battery. With any oil change, your local Bob Sumerel Tire location will test your battery in order to see if it is performing properly.
Fortunately, batteries often will start to show signs of a decrease in power long before the battery actually dies. This week's blog takes a look at your battery, as well as tell tale signs that it is time to replace it.

• Check engine light is on- If you notice slower cranking than usual, as well as a check engine light illuminated, its time to have your battery tested! 
• Visible battery leak- Visual inspections of your battery can be done at any time, Simply look around the top seal of the battery for any fluid seeping out of the top casing. 
• A clicking sound when you try to start your car- When you hear this, you can rule out that your starter is bad. Have your battery checked and replaced if needed. 
• Slower cranking, especially on cold days- Be sure to pay attention to if your car "drags" while it starts. If it begins to drag, it may be time to get your battery checked. Any local Bob Sumerel Tire Co. can test your battery for free! 
• You have needed a jump frequently- While jumps can fix a battery that is drained, a dead battery will continue to give you problems, requiring a jump almost every time. 

The good thing is that most battery replacements can be done quickly, and with minimal effort of installation. Something to keep in mind when purchasing a new battery is how long the warranty lasts. If you are planning on keeping a vehicle for a long time, it might be worth the investment to get a battery that is expected to last longer. Batteries on the market today have warranties lasting anywhere from 90 days up to 5 years. To get a quote on a new battery, contact your local Bob Sumerel Tire location for further details. 

Abnormal Tire Wear: What is Looks Like, and How to Prevent it

The old "penny trick" is a common way of measuring the current depth of your car's tires. 2/32nd's is the depth in which it is recommended to purchase a new set of hoops, and is a measurement backed by government regulations. When you do in fact get a new set of tires, stretching your dollar the furthest means you need to be cautious, and take care of your new set of tires. In this week's blog post, we will show you examples of what abnormal tire wear looks like, and how you can be proactive in preventing this from happening!

Toe Wear- This is primarily caused by an alignment issue with the vehicle. The tire will show wear on one of the edges of the tire, but not the other. Have your vehicle's alignment done when getting your new tires, but also have it checked periodically to ensure the vehicle is properly aligned!
Camber Wear- The photo to the right illustrates both positive and negative camber. Essentially, one side of the tire is being stressed heavily, while the other side has minimal contact with the ground. To prevent this, an alignment should be checked and/or performed to ensure a neutral camber. Alignments can be completed at any local Bob Sumerel Tire location!
Center Wear - Over inflating your tires is the what causes center wear on your tires. Get in the routine of having your air pressure checked to ensure your tires are at the correct pressure. Your local Bob Sumerel can take care of this for you free of charge!
Edge Wear- This is the opposite of center wear, and is caused by having under-inflated tires. The majority of the stress is being put on the edges of your tires when they are under inflated, also resulting in poor handling.
Patch Wear- When a tire is not balanced properly, it is subject to "hopping" while on the road. Usually, these patterns are erratic and have no consistency with how they form. Any local Bob Sumerel Tire location will balance your tires with purchase, and can be checked periodically upon scheduled maintenance checks!
Cup Wear- These consistent bald spots in the tire usually stem from your shocks, struts, or stabilizer links going bad. A simple inspection can be done at any Bob Sumerel location to check to see if the suspension parts are holding up.

Something else to keep in mind is regularly rotating your tires, which is a free service at your Bob Sumerel Tire location with any tire purchase. By rotating your tires, you allow for the tread to be worn evenly, and preventing any wear from alignment/suspension issues. Simple checks can be done to see if your suspension is tight, or to see if your alignment on your vehicle is off. If your vehicle "pulls," or has abnormal shakes at highway speeds, contact your local Bob Sumerel for a complimentary vehicle inspection.

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An Overview of your Vehicle's Cooling System from your Ohio's Experts

A vehicle's heating system is often one that is frequently used around this time a year, but is often taken for granted as a luxury in modern vehicle components. Like your engine oil, your antifreeze should be flushed according to your mileage, but not as frequently as changing your oil. This service, as well as others can be done at any local Bob Sumerel Tire location! There are many parts that work together to make this cooling system operate fluidly, getting the engine up to operating temperature. Below are brief descriptions of each of these components, and what their responsibilities are within the vehicle:

• Thermostat - Typically on the top of the motor, this small valve opens when the engine reaches operating temperatures to allow coolant to pass into the engine. This component is also in charge of creating warm air in the car's cabin when you turn the heat on.
• Water pump - This cast iron piece is run by a pulley system from your serpentine belt, pumping the water in and out of the motor.
• Radiator - This part is located in the front of the vehicle, it regulates the temperature of the pressurized coolant that cycles in and out of the motor. 
• Expansion Tank - Also known as an overflow tank, this plastic container is what you pour your coolant into, which holds any excess coolant.
• Hoses - There is an upper and a lower hose, both are in charge or distributing coolant to different parts of the motor, also cycling it through the radiator. These hoses should be free of any cracks or bulges at the ends.  
• Cooling fan - Usually located on the radiator, or attached to the water pump pulley this component is in charge of cooling the vehicle's radiator. 
• Coolant/Antifreeze- This fluid is essentially the "blood" of your car's cooling system. It is a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water that keeps your car's motor from freezing over or boiling up when in operation. 

Failure to flush your coolant system can cause severe calcium build up within the internal parts of your cooling system. Calcium build up can deteriorate plastic radiator parts, as well as cast iron parts engine parts, and even rubber gasket material. These individual components should be visually inspected about every oil change to ensure there are no leaks in the system. Call your local Bob Sumerel Tire shop if you have any questions about your vehicle's suggested fluid intervals. For a further look into your vehicle's cooling system, as well as other vehicle components, check out CarCare's article here. 

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Proper Shock/Strut Maintenance from Ohio's Suspension Guru's

While tires play a vital role in the overall "ride" when driving, there are several other components on a vehicle that help deliver a smooth ride. Your shocks and struts are often forgotten about, as they are usually something that will not make a vehicle inoperable. These gas-powered components play a crucial part in things like tire wear, ride control, and overall ride comfort. Monroe® suggests that your shocks be checked every 50,000 miles for wear, with the average shocks lasting anywhere from 60,000 to 90,000. Get in touch with your local Bob Sumerel Tire to have your shocks and suspension checked at no charge! Many may not notice a huge difference in ride quality as their shocks get weaker overtime, but there are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about your shocks:

• Abnormal tire wear can be a result from bad shocks. If shocks do not perform sufficiently, they can cause the tire to "hop" creating abnormal bald spots on parts of the tire.
• Visual inspection of the shocks can be done at any local Bob Sumerel Tire Co. Any signs of gas fluid leaking around the cylinder of the shock is an indication they need to be replaced. 
  
• Always replace shocks in pairs. Failing to do this will result in abnormal tire wear, and even could cause poor handling. 
• Get an alignment after having shocks/struts replaced. New shocks make alter the geometry of the vehicle, an alignment will ensure your tires wear evenly and can be done at any Bob Sumerel Tire location!

 Additional components can be replaced in accordance with your shocks to help restore your ride to its factory condition. Replacing things like coil springs, or sway bar links/bushings can improve your suspension, making it tighter and more responsive. If you are worried your suspension might not be performing as it used to, schedule a check-up with your local Bob Sumerel Tire Co to clear up any potential problems down the road!

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