No matter how well you plan, it happens every year…you end up rushing around like a maniac doing last minute shopping, gift wrapping, making your special yummy recipe, packing up the family car and driving in really lousy weather to visit friends and family.

You would have to be Super Hero not to get stressed out. You are cramming this extra “stuff” in your normal everyday rushing around, so it is no wonder the holidays leave so many people frazzled.

Remember that when you hit the roads to go on your holiday “vacation” you are sharing the highways and byways with a lot of other tense and weary drivers.

I’d like to give you my secret holiday driving stress reliever. Well, it’s not actually a secret, but I’m hoping that it gives you some food for thought and keeps you a little bit saner and a lot safer during your holiday travels.

Let your holiday begin as soon as you sit in the car and shut the door. Take a deep breath and let yourself relax before you turn on the engine. If the driver has any anxiety and apprehension concerning the trip then expect the passengers to pick up on the tension and add to it. Don’t start the trip by saying things like: “I hate the holidays, I hate going to your mothers, I’m too tired to deal with any of this, you kids better shut up and go to sleep because I am too stressed out to deal with you”, etc.

Try this instead: “Starting right now, we are officially on vacation. I have lots of yummy snacks for the trip, great music (and / or books on tape, DVDs , games to play, etc) to make this a fun trip. We will be stopping every couple of hours to stretch and air everyone out! Let the fun begin!”

When packing your vehicle, make sure everything is securely stowed. Make sure you also bring along the correct road maps, a spare key in your wallet, and a cell phone with the phone numbers programmed in of anyone you might need to contact if you are running late. It’s always a good idea to pack an emergency kit: a car jack and tools, snow scraper and brush, extra blanket, flashlight, candles, matches, jumper cables, small shovel, some kitty litter, and flares or emergency triangles.

Whenever you stop make sure you lock the vehicle. Always store your luggage and packages out of sight. It’s sad to say but there are would-be thieves who take advantage of holiday packed cars.

Do yourself a big favor and make sure your car is road worthy by taking it to the shop for a safety check at least a week before your trip. My top priorities are: tires, brakes, lights, windshield wipers, cooling system and the reliability of the car to start every time you turn it on.

Try and scope out the weather before you head out. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm contains links to information on weather and road conditions. Leave yourself some extra time on your holiday travel schedule. The roads will be heavily traveled, congested and winter storms can sometimes hit without warning.

If you encounter bad weather, please slow down. You need at a lot more space between you and vehicle in front to stop, and remember that bridges and overpasses freeze first in cold conditions. There will also be more commercial vehicles on the road. Remember that big semi trucks are a lot heavier then your little car and need much more time and distance to stop.

If you start out on your trip tired, you are going to get heavy-eyed as the miles go by. Try and get a good night’s sleep before your trip. If you are driving a long distance, it helps to have a passenger who likes to talk.

Here are some early warning signs of exhaustion and pending danger:

• Repeated yawning
• Difficulty focusing
• Your rear end if going numb and you feel incredible restless
• Not remembering the last few miles driven
• Missing traffic signs and turns
• Hitting the rumble strips on the highway

What to do if you’re exhausted:

• Find somewhere to pull over ASAP. A restaurant, gas station or rest area is best.
• Drink some coffee but understand it takes about 30 minutes for the caffeine to kick in.
• Go for a walk or exercises to get rid of grogginess.
• Find a safe place and take a brief nap for at least 30 min.

Always appoint a designated driver when attending seasonal gatherings. When you are really tired, just one drink can have the same effect as three or more. Also remember that overeating can make you tired, and that turkey contains L-tryptophan which is like a natural sedative.

Having a good attitude, getting your car road worthy and staying awake will make your holiday travels more enjoyable and much safer. And don’t forget before you head back home to check the tire pressure, oil, coolant and make sure the windshield, mirrors, headlights and tail lights are clean!

Safe and Happy Motoring,

Amy

Driving a Hybrid Vehicle in Vermont
causes unique problems,
which are not explained in the owner’s manual.

*Cabin Air Filter: If the cabin air filter is clogged in a hybrid, the high voltage battery is cooled less.
This takes life out of the big expensive battery and reduces the car’s power and fuel economy.

And, just like a plugged vacuum cleaner, a cabin air filter with restricted air flow can’t suck up the dirt.

old pads and new pads

*Brakes: Hybrid vehicles have a regenerative braking system.
This means that the conventional brakes only work when going 5 mph or less.

Vermont has an excess of moisture and salt on our roads that cause brakes to rust and because the conventional brakes don’t get used much, they never build up the heat that helps to burn off the rust.
Many Vermont hybrid owners are driving around with the brakes stuck on all the time, which causes the car to drag and burn more fuel to go the same distance.

1. I recommend you have a brakes service that cleans and adjusts them every 30,000 miles.
2. You should also wash the brake area on a regular basis to keep off the salt. This is much cheaper than having to replace the brakes from lack of use and neglect.

*Air Conditioning: It is imperative that the A/C on your hybrid is serviced on a regular basis. The A/C is ducted back from the heater box. It cools the expensive, high voltage battery in the summer and heats it in the winter.

BUT, because the air conditioning compressor in hybrids takes special oil that is electrically non-conductive, you need to take it to the dealer or to a shop that has a dedicated A/C machine that only uses the hybrid special oil. If the wrong oil is used it will cause a high voltage ground fault and fry the A/C system. Ouch!

*Small Regular Battery: Basically the hybrids small battery’s job is to turn on the big battery. Then the big battery or electric motor powers the car, slows the car down and recharges itself.

When you need to replace the small battery make sure you get the correct one. Many hybrids take a special glass mat battery.

Hybrids are quirky and have special needs even for something as simple as an oil change or brake repair.
More than 90% of hybrid repairs and service don’t need to be done at the Dealer.
You can save money by going to an independent shop whose technicians are hybrid trained.

Safe and Happy Motoring,

Amy Mattinat
Owner: www.AutoCraftsmen.comAuthor: How To Buy A Great Used Car
Automotive Expert Advisor on www.AskPatty.com
Join me: www.facebook.com/autocraftsmen

Do you own a car? Is it registered in Vermont? Did you know that Vermont requires you to take your vehicle to a State Licensed Inspection Station once a year for a safety and emissions inspection?

Interestingly this is not a national requirement. Each state government is free to decide whether to require a safety inspection as well as the specifics of what the requirements are to pass that state’s inspection.

In 1990 Congress passed federal vehicle emissions regulations called The Clean Air Act. States were told to implement vehicle emissions testing programs to make sure vehicles are in compliance with the EPA standard, but again, programs vary from state to state, region, and even by metropolitan areas.

Some states have state-operated garages that only do inspections. Other states, including Vermont, have the inspections done by licensed repair shops and dealership service departments.

Only about 18 states still have mandatory vehicle inspections. The states that have no inspection claim that the mandatory inspections are not a cost-effective way to improve road-traffic safety. From experience, I would disagree. Every week I see vehicles that come into my shop that are unsafe to drive. They are old, rusting away, leaking brake fluid, gasoline, exhaust fumes and have broken steering and suspension parts, worn out brakes, let alone worn out windshield wipers and lights out. If it was not for the mandatory state inspection that forces folks to repair or retire these vehicles, folks would keep driving them. This not only endangers the driver and passengers, but it also endangers other vehicles that they share the road with.

If your vehicle fails its state inspection, you have options. You can have the inspection station repair your vehicle, take it to another shop to be repaired, or even take it home and do it yourself. It also does not matter where the replacement parts come from as long as it will fix the problem. Most of the time this means you need to purchase a new part, but sometimes you can go online or to a junkyard to find a used part.

Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles gives each inspection station a detailed manual (approx. 300 pages) of what constitutes a pass or fail. Even with this book in hand, the biggest problem I see with Vermont’s inspection system is that it’s open to interpretation.

One shop may fail a vehicle for something another shop may pass. Each shop may honestly feel they are correct because there are ‘grey areas’ where the state of Vermont has not given enough information for the shop to make an accurate judgment.

Brakes are the biggest ‘GREY AREA’. Last year shops were not allowed to remove any wheels to do a brake inspection. The brakes could be worn out 95%, but if they stopped the vehicle at that moment, it passed. Beginning this year, one wheel must be removed and the brakes inspected. AND if on the road test, the inspector detects or suspects a problem with one or more of the brakes; all four wheels must be removed and inspected. So now there is a new problem. The inspector can’t really give an accurate brake diagnosis by just taking off the wheel. To make an accurate diagnosis the brakes need to be taken apart and the state does not allow the inspector to take the brakes apart. So, if you get a phone call asking for permission to take your brakes apart – this is why.

What else you should know about Vermont’s annual vehicle safety inspection:

• Vermont Inspection stations are allowed to charge an hourly rate or a flat fee. In either case they are required to post how much they charge beside their official inspection station certificate.
• The inspection stickers itself costs the shop $4.00
• Stickers are always an even number. So if you have #2 on your windshield, you have from Jan. 1^st to Feb 28^th to get your vehicle inspected.
• There are seventy five things inspectors need to check on your vehicle for the official Vermont State Vehicle Inspection sheet.
• This year the state has added ‘worn, frayed or cracked belts’ to the “don’t pass” inspection list.
• You need to show the inspection station proof of car registration & proof of car insurance to get your car inspected.
• No items are allowed to be hanging from the rearview mirror – so take off your fuzzy dice before you take your rig in for its annual state inspection!
• Vermont does not require a smog check per se, but 1996 and newer vehicles include an on-board diagnostics (OBDII) inspection.
• If you have a vehicle newly registered in Vermont the state gives you 10 days to get the vehicle inspected.
• To get a copy of the Vermont State Vehicle Inspection sheet, go online to: dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/pdf/DMV-Inspection_Guide.pdf

Whether you think having a mandatory state safety inspection is smart or stupid, it is the law and if you get caught with an expired sticker on your windshield it is a $99.00 fine.

Safe and Happy Motoring,

Amy Mattinat
Owner: www.AutoCraftsmen.com
Author: How To Buy A Great Used Car
Automotive Expert Advisor on www.AskPatty.com
Join me: www.facebook.com/autocraftsmen

Gasoline prices are on the rise again. With political turmoil and natural disasters happening all over the world, I don’t see the price of gasoline dropping in the near future, if ever again. You may not have control of increased fuel prices, but you do have control of getting better fuel mileage on your existing vehicle.

By following these steps, you can add miles to every gallon with your coupe, sedan, wagon, SUV, minivan, pickup truck, or hybrid. (More on hybrids below).

1. Slow Down! Each mph driven over 60 will cost an additional 10 cents per gallon. Rapid acceleration and hard braking can lower your gas mileage by 33% on the highway and 5% in the city driving
2. Avoid excessive idling! You get zero miles per gallon when the car it just sitting there idling away (unless you drive a hybrid).
3. Minimize air conditioning! In city driving, using the air conditioner in hot weather can increase your fuel consumption more than 20%.
4. Are you in alignment? Properly aligned wheels will reduce tire wear, give you better gas mileage, and improve the handling.
5. One-stop shopping! Plan your shopping so you can do all your errands in one day. Park the car in a central location and walk between destinations. Several short stop and go errands can use twice as much fuel than a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance.
6. Don’t delay your vehicle’s tune-up: A well maintained, tuned-up car may improve gas mileage by about 4 %, which saves you fuel and money, and reduces long-term maintenance costs. There are also many sensors that help keep the engine running smoothly and efficiently. Replacing a failed oxygen sensor could improve your gas mileage by as much as 40%.
7. Travel Lightt. Using a roof rack or a carrier decreases fuel efficiency by 5%. Unnecessary items in your trunk that weigh over 100 pounds also reduce an automobile’s fuel efficiency by 1 to 2%. It’s like jogging by yourself versus jogging with a toddler on your back. It takes more time to go the same distance.
8. Remember to check your tires for proper inflation! Check your owner’s manual for the correct tire pressure. Low air pressure creates more rolling resistance and burns more fuel. You also get faster tread wear if the air pressure is too low. Some hybrids use two pounds more in the front tires than rear.

1. Is your air filter dirty? The engine air filter is very small and gets dirty quickly. The engine is basically a giant air pump that sucks air through the air filter into the combustion chamber and pushes it out the exhaust. So when the filter is clogged, the engine is inefficient & burns more fuel.

Safe and Happy Motoring,

Amy Mattinat

Owner: www.AutoCraftsmen.com

Author: How To Buy A Great Used Car

Automotive Expert Advisor on www.AskPatty.com

Join me: www.facebook.com/autocraftsmen

It’s been a long, cold snowy winter so far and we still have March and April to get through. This time of year seems to be hard for many folks. I wish I had enough money to close the shop for a week and take my staff to somewhere sunny and warm. But since I don’t, we have been busy doing shop-projects.

This years winter project has been,  re-organizing the parts room. Thanks to one of our part vendors we received  a bunch of shelving. We are organizing  a bunch of the parts that we stock for your cars. We have 3 shelves filled and have 1½ left to fill.  I love organizing things and getting rid of clutter, and this has been a fabulous change in my world!

I also love it that we now have room in the parts room to store all our specialized machines to keep them clean!

My next project is to re-organize all the  shelves and cupboards in the shop!

Winterizing your car is essential to surviving Vermont’s frigid winters. Make sure you can rely on your car to transport you and your family safely in any weather conditions Old Man Winter can throw your way. Why take the risk? Be proactive! Make sure your car is mechanically sound before the temperature dips and the snow starts falling.

9 Steps to Getting You and Your Car Ready for Winter.

1. Clean your vehicle inside and out. Have body of your vehicle washed and waxed. This preventative measure will protect the paint surfaces from snowy bombardments, and it will also make snow and ice easier to brush off. 

Since you will be sitting in your car with the windows up and the heat on for the next six months do yourself a favor and give your car a thorough cleaning ASAP. Remove any debris that has collected over the summer, and vacuum the seats and floor. Dust the dash, wash the windows and clean the upholstery. To prevent that stale air / locker room smell, consider replacing your cabin air filter and then hang up an organic air-freshener.   It’s also a great idea to take out your carpeted floor mats and replace them with a set of water-resistant vinyl or rubber mats.

2. Make sure you can see. A winter storm is the worst possible time to run out of windshield washer fluid or to discover your blades aren’t clearing the windshield properly. Wiper blades usually last for about six months. Since visibility is a key ingredient to safety, so be sure to invest in some new ones if needed. Make sure the washer fluid is good to -20 F. Never use plain water. It will freeze all over your windshield.

3. Ensuring that your heating system is functioning properly should be a top priority. While a functioning heater and defroster are necessary to keep the windshield nice and clear, they also offer you shelter from the cold. Trust me; you do not want to be trapped in a cold car in the months to come. Also check that the rear window defroster is working.

4. Give your battery a little TLC. A battery gives little notice before it dies, and very cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle’s battery power by up to 50 percent. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have the battery tested when you take your car in to get your winter tires put on. Also have them check that the battery posts and connections are free of corrosion. No one wants to be stranded with a dead battery in the bitter cold!

5. Belts and hoses. While they are testing your battery, make sure they inspect the belts and hoses for wear and tear — even if you’re driving a newer car. The belts and hoses in modern cars lead long lives, but that doesn’t mean they don’t die. Cold weather can do a number on belts and hoses, so they deserve attention too.

6. Tires: Need I remind you that the tire is the only part of your automobile that touches the ground? Having good winter tires on your car is the most important thing you can do to insure the next six months of worry free winter driving. The condition of your car’s tires is critical during the winter. Braking, acceleration and handling are all impacted while driving on slippery roads. Give yourself an edge with great winter tires!

Tire pressure is also important during the winter. Since traction is compromised due to wet or snowy conditions, it is critical to have properly inflated tires. Please remember that with lower temperatures, the air pressure in a cold tire will drop. Why? Because air is a gas, and gas contracts when it gets cold and expands with heat. Plus, having full and balanced tires can save you 2-3 miles per gallon of gas, that’s extra money in your pocket!

7. Get the antifreeze mixture just right. The ideal mixture of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your vehicle’s radiator is 50/50.  This will prevent the mixture from freezing in those ridiculously cold temperatures that occur every winter in Vermont. Antifreeze is very important to your engine. It cools the car’s engine, protects it from freezing in the cold weather and is the key agent in providing heat inside the car.

8. Prepare an emergency kit. Even the most meticulously maintained vehicle can develop problems on the road, especially during the winter. That’s when it pays to be prepared for an emergency.

Your Winter Survival Kit Should Include:

• A spare tire with air in it
• Extra windshield washer fluid and paper towels
• Tire-changing equipment
• A bag of abrasive material such as sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter, which can provide additional traction if a tire gets stuck in snow.
• A flashlight, flares and a first-aid kit.
• Jumper cables, a tool kit and tire chains.
• Blanket and extra warm clothes (scarves, gloves, hats, boots)
• Contact information of people to be called in case of an emergency
• A snow brush with an aggressive ice scraper and snow shovel.
• High protein, non-perishable foods such as protein bars, nuts, raisins, and water.
• All-weather power source that will permit you to jumpstart your vehicle without another vehicle. That can be comforting if you’re by yourself.

Auto Craftsmen is so excited that they finally found a quality non-toxic commercial grade cleaner that that has passed our stringent seal of approval.

We have tested many green products, but have not been happy with the quality of cleaning that they provided… that is until we found ES71 Super H202 CLEANER / DEGREASER made by Enviro-Solutions.

This product does a good job, and for the chemically sensitive, does not leave behind that soapy, chemical smell that most cleaning products do.

It does not equal the cleaning strength of our regular cleaning products, but it does a darn good job – one that we can stand behind and that will “WOW” someone who could not otherwise have their vehicle cleaned.

So now we are able to offer our clients a choice of two types of cleaning products:

1. Super Duty

2. Green and Clean

Enviro-Solutions provides us with our . . . Good Clean Product: ES71
Distributed By: * Reg. TM of:Enviro-Solutions Ltd.
Peterborough, Ontario  K9J 8N4 www.enviro-solution.com

• Multi-purpose cleaner, degreaser and odor eliminator
• Various applications depending upon the dilution rate used
• Great for washroom floors and all other surfaces; carpet cleaning
(spotting, extracting, bonnet); grout cleaning; and more
• Cleaning power of Hydrogen Peroxide & Citrus
• Citrus oil penetrates surfaces and breaks down oils
• Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes soils and stains
eliminate odors, and provides color safe whitening

BIODEGRADABILITY
(Decomposition of organic substances into carbon dioxide, water and other harmless substances.) Rapid biodegradation reduces impact on the environment and food chain. All organic cleaning ingredients in these formulas are readily biodegradable per OECD Test 301D.

NATURAL RENEWABLE RESOURCES
Wherever possible, we use only naturally-based,
renewable ingredients, such as grains, corn oil,
palm kernel oil, coconut oil, sugar cane juice & glucose.

TOXICITY
Acute Oral/Dermal Product considered essentially
non-toxic according to WHMIS regulations.

AQUATIC TOXICITY
Product exceeds recognized acute toxicity standards
for fish, invertebrate and algae at use dilution.

GS-37 CERTIFIED
This product meets the Green Seal™ environmental standard for industrial and institutional cleaners based on its reduced human and aquatic toxicity and reduced smog production potential.

HEALTH & SAFETY
No ingredient found on major regulatory lists.
Non-flammable and non-corrosive at use dilution.

SEAL OF APPROVAL
Carpet & Rug Institute

For more information about our Auto Detailing Service or to make an appointment online, CLICK HERE

“It Only Happens Once Every Thousand Years”

– this year’s October 10th-

10/10/2010

We thought this was soooo cool, we decided to have some fun with the Number 10
and run a special that would be truly special!

With the cold temperatures headed our way,
and windows being rolled up… and you being ’stuck’ sitting in your summer debris,
It’s a GREAT idea to get your vehicle cleaned on the inside.

Rain and sleet, snow and ice, salt and sand,
will be attacking the outside of your vehicle….
It’s a GREAT idea to get a good wax coating to protect the outside!

Be one of the 1st ten callers (223-2253)

and book a Complete Detail with any Service or Repair: Starting at only $110.10

A Complete Detail usually starts at $199.74
If you act quickly you can save $89.64

Call Marc at 223-2253, book your Complete Detail – starting at only $110.10
and we ask that you bring in 4 non-perishable food items for the Vermont Food Bank!

HURRY… this special is only for the 1st ten callers!

*Sorry – you cannot use this in combination with your club card discounts or any other promotions!

DON’T BE THIS PERSON?

Her auto technician told her 3xs that she should get the timing belt changed on her 2002 PT Cruiser.

But she kept putting it off – because she did not want to spend the money.

While driving to work – the timing belt broke… and because this vehicle has an interference engine, the engine is probably toast. The vehicle got towed to Auto Craftsmen.

The only way to find out if the engine survived is to put a new timing belt on the engine (approx. a five hour job). It is will either be OK – or not Ok – It’s about a $500 gamble!  So Sad!

Exercise while you wait for Automotive Services at Auto Craftsmen

You asked for it… and we listened!

We now have an exercise room (air conditioned too) so you can get a work out while waiting for an oil change or other minor service on your car.

If the service or repairs are going to take too long to wait – we have a shuttle service into the greater Montpelier area & five loaner cars available for you to use!