Interior Car Cleaning

Cleaning your car or truck like a pro is easier than you think.  Here are some helpful cleaning tips from real auto detailers to get and keep your vehicle clean

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

Step 1: Slide seats forward to clean out the junk Remove the big junk by hand then vacuum the rest. You’ll be surprised by what you find. We found a lost cell phone, enough pens and pencils to equip a small office, and enough change for several vending machine lunches. Vacuum the seats, remove the mats and vacuum the carpet. Use a brush attachment for the dash and door panels. Don’t forget to clean out and vacuum those handy door pockets (another source of buried treasure).

Step 2: Deep-clean carpet and upholstery A carpet-cleaning machine removes the deep dirt, and cloth seats, too. Use a carpet cleaning machine to get the deep dirt that settles into the fibers of the carpet. (Clean cloth seats this way as well.) It sprays the carpet with a solution of water and cleaner and then sucks the dirt and grime into a reservoir. A machine like this pays for itself after just a few uses. You can also rent one from a rental center or use a spray-on cleaner and a scrub brush instead.

Step 3: Clean and condition leather or vinyl seats Use specialized cleaner, then follow later with conditioner. After a couple of years, you’ll notice that the color of the leather seats no longer matches the rest of the interior. It’s not enough just to condition the leather. First spray on leather cleaner and rub vigorously with a clean terry cloth towel. To avoid rubbing the grime back into the seats, keep flipping the cloth to expose a fresh surface. Let the seats dry for an hour and then rub in a leather conditioner like Lexol to keep the leather supple. It’s available at discount stores and auto stores.

Step 4: Remember to clean nooks and crannies A flat screwdriver and a rag cleans most dash details. Detailing means just that—finding and dealing with all the trim lines and recesses that a quick once-over cleaning job misses. Wrap a cloth around an old, worn screwdriver (without sharp edges) and spray Simple Green or other all-purpose cleaner on the cloth. Move it gently along the trim lines to pick up the gunk. Keep refreshing the surface of the cloth. Go around all the buttons and controls as well. Follow up with a rejuvenator like Armor All.

Step 5: Brush out the air vents A long-bristled artist’s brush and furniture polish removes dust well. These louvers are a real magnet for dust, and a vacuum with a brush attachment just won’t get it all. Take an inexpensive paint brush and give it a light shot of Endust or Pledge furniture polish. Work the brush into the crevices to collect the dust. Wipe the brush off with a rag and move on to the next one.

Step 6: Wash the windows, including the top edges Don’t forget the grime at the top of all windows. Ever notice that line of grime on the tops of windows when they’re partially rolled down? Most people overlook this detail when giving their vehicle a quick wash. A few minutes with Windex and a clean rag is all it takes.

Step 7: Scrape off those annoying stickers A plastic putty knife helps you pull off stickers. While all of your national and state park stickers may call to mind great memories, they can be a visual hazard as they accumulate. The high-quality stickers will pull off if you can get under a corner and carefully pull them free at a 90-degree angle. Others will leave a gummy residue and require a bit more attention. Cover your dash with an old towel and dab on Goo Gone. Then scrape and wipe it off.

Step 8: Kill bad odors One pump of Odor Gun eliminates odors. Whether your vehicle smells like a Big Mac or cigarettes, one pump of the Odor Gun will solve the problem.

Spring Showers Bring Driving Safety Hazards

Worn out tires and windshield wiper blades are symptoms of neglected vehicle maintenance that put drivers and passengers at serious risk during the typically rainy months of spring.

Thin tire treads create hazardous driving conditions when water builds up on the roadway, according to the Car Care Council. Deep tread accommodates accumulated water; thin tread does not. Thin tread causes the tire to hydroplane – ride up on a film of water, losing contact with the pavement, similar to driving on ice.

The simplest way to check tire tread depth is with a penny. Insert the penny into the grooves of the tread. If you are able to see all of Lincoln’s head, the tire needs replacement.

Rainy weather also affects driver visibility. Because 90 percent of driving decisions depend on good vision, a clean windshield is imperative. Streaking and smearing impair vision and are caused by worn windshield blades. One out of every five vehicles that went through the Car Care Council’s check lanes had worn wiper blades.

“Replacing worn wiper blades is easy and inexpensive,” said Rich White of the Car Care Council. “Why put it off until there’s a downpour and your blades are chattering and smearing the windshield?”

Schedule an appointment with our service department to make sure your vehicle is ready for the spring showers to start, or contact our parts department with any questions.

Car Care: The Key to a Long-Lasting Vehicle

National Car Care Month in April is the time of year to give your car some extra attention. Basic car care is the key to a long-lasting vehicle, improving its safety and dependability.

“Neglected vehicle care almost always means much higher costs down the line in the form of more extensive repairs or lost resale value,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Following a routine maintenance program makes financial sense, extending useful vehicle life and helping avoid costly repairs down the road.”

The Car Care Council recommends 10 basic maintenance procedures to keep your car operating at its best for the long haul:

1. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

2. Check the hoses and belts to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.

3. Check the battery and replace if necessary. Make sure the connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.

4. Check the brake system annually and have the brake linings, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change.

5. Inspect the exhaust system for leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and must be corrected without delay.

6. Schedule a tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.

7. Check the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system as proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting.

8. Inspect the steering and suspension system annually including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.

9. Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.

10. Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

To schedule service with Rick Hendrick Chevrolet click here.

MPG Ingenuity

No matter which kind of Chevrolet you drive, you can probably do a few things to help it get better gas mileage, thus saving you time and money. On their own, none of these tips will save you much, but when you implement several of them, you'll start to notice that you are getting more miles on your odometer before filling up.

Here are seven tips to get more miles out of each tank of gas:

1. Check your tire pressure

Tires that are under-inflated can't roll along easily, thus your car needs to burn more gas in order to keep going. Buy, and learn how to use, a tire gauge and make it a habit to check the pressure at least once a month and add air if necessary.

2. Keep your air filters clean

Dirty air filters slow down the flow of air into the engine, thus causing economy and performance to nosedive. Checking, and changing, the filter only takes a few minutes. To save even more, and help the environment, buy a reusable filter that gets cleaned, not changed.

3. Learn from the big guys

Have you ever noticed that big trucks tend to drive at the same pace, not speeding up and down like smaller cars tend to do? Keeping a constant speed helps fuel economy since it takes less fuel to keep the car in motion, than it does to slow down and speed up.

4. Run some tests

There may be a reason why that gas station across from where you regularly fill up prices it's gas two-cents higher--your car may utilize it better, thus saving you money in the long run. Higher quality gas is better for your car and, if it causes your car to get better gas mileage, it's a simple choice to buy the more expensive option.

5. Slow down

Aside from it being the law, driving at the speed limit will make your tank go further. And, contrary to popular belief, you don't save all that much time by going a few miles faster.

6. Lighten up

Take an hour this weekend to give your car a good cleaning and take out unnecessary items that are weighing it down. Find things that can be taken out and see how much better your car runs once it loses 20 pounds or more.

7. Slow down before red lights

If you see that a light is about to change to green, slow down and coast so that you won't have to come to a full stop before it changes. By not having to accelerate back to your full speed, you'll get better mileage.

These tips work for any car or truck, even hybrids and fuel-efficient models. If you're looking for a new car, head on over to Rick Hendrick Chevrolet to check out the selection and find one that's right for you!

Oscar Meyer Wienermobile visiting Charleston

That big hot dog on wheels, the Oscar Mayer wienermobile, is visiting the South Carolina coast.

The vehicle shaped like a giant hot dog will be visiting supermarkets in Mount Pleasant on today (Thursday), then stop by the Cooper River Bridge kids run Friday.

It will be at the Cooper River Bridge run Saturday before visiting more area supermarkets Sunday.

During the stops there will be family activities and free wiener whistles.

There are six wienermobiles.

Here’s the Weinermobile schedule for the Charleston area.

The Thursday and Sunday dates are at local Bi-Lo stores:

Thursday, April 4, 11 AM – 2 PM, 1440 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Mt. Pleasant and 3 PM – 6 PM, 774 S Shelmore Blvd.

Friday, April 5, 11 AM- 4PM Hampton Park, Charleston

Saturday, April 6, 8 AM- 12:30PM, Marion Square, Charleston

Sunday, April 7, 10 AM – 1 PM, 1909 US Hwy 17 Bypass, Mt. Pleasant and 2 PM – 5 PM, 860 Folly Rd. Charleston