by tvetensautocliniccom on April 18, 2012
Don't Text and Drive
Phone Down, Eyes Up
Texting and driving is like playing Russian Roulette
You are 23x more likely to crash if you text while driving. According to the NHTSA, in 2009 an estimated 20 percent of 1,517,000 injury crashes were reported to have involved distracted driving.
Teen drivers are more likely than other age groups to be involved in a fatal crash where distraction is reported. In 2009, 16% of teen drivers involved in a fatal crash were reported to have been distracted.
Distracted Driving News (US Government site) >>
by tvetensautocliniccom on April 16, 2012
Yes - there is an app for this
Yes. And there is an app to stop it.
We’ve all done it. Tried to fit in a quick message while driving the car. The problem – we’re very distracted and we’re very dangerous.
Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. If you are traveling 55 mph, that is the same as driving the length of an entire football field, blind-folded.*
With new laws in place and reduced mobile phone usage on the road, it is now painfully easy to spot the offenders. They weave, they brake late (or early), and quite often are stuck at the light when it is as green as it is going to get. So even though there are fines for using your cell phone while driving, it still is causing accidents and deaths across the nation.
While we can’t remove the temptation, there are some apps that can control the calls.
There’s an app for that >>
One text or call could wreck it all.
You can safely end the practice of texting while driving with a number of different apps:
tXtBlocker blocks texting and speaking while a vehicle is in motion and sends an automatic “Driving” message to anyone who texts or calls.
tXtBlocker can also be customized to block text messages or calls at certain times of the day or near certain locations, such as a school or workplace. 911 calls are always allowed. tXtBlocker costs $6.99 for a single-user plan and $9.99 a month for a family plan. It works with most Android and BlackBerry devices.
Textecution™ kills texting functions while driving.
Textecution sits quietly in the background and allows you use your phone normally. Once it detects that the phone is travelling faster than 10 mph, Textecution disables the phone’s texting feature, so text messages can’t be sent or received. Once the phone is at rest or travelling slower than 10 mph, the texting feature is restored. There is a one-time fee of $29.99 to download the app, which is good for the life of a phone number. Android devices only.
iZUP - defers calls to voice mail and holds text messages while the vehicle is in motion.
iZUP is another app that monitors speed and other critical conditions to determine whether a phone is in a moving vehicle. Once a predetermined speed is reached, iZUP holds text messages, e-mails and calls while you’re driving, yet always allows unlimited access to 911 and a list of authorized phone numbers. iZUP is $2.95 per month for a single user and $5.95 per month for a family plan.
There are also corporate options.
Any of the above can help you control your texting. And that of your teen drivers. Let’s make the roads a little safer by reducing the distractions.
*From Distraction.gov
by tvetensautocliniccom on March 19, 2012
At Tveten’s Auto Clinic, we would like to thank you for allowing us to service your vehicle. We very much value your trust in our business.
To show our appreciation, we have created a very special offer just for you and your second or third vehicles that have never been in for service at our shop!
When you visit us with an additional vehicle for maintenance or repair service, we are offering you a $12.95 Oil Service on that vehicle.
Our highly trained and experienced technicians provide exceptional maintenance and repair service every day on a variety of cars and light trucks. Please allow us to meet all of your automotive needs – from oil changes to preventive maintenance, tire service to engine repair.
Many of our customers trust us to service all of their family vehicles, so join in and take advantage of our special offer!
Thank you for your business!
by tvetensautocliniccom on December 13, 2011
From Your Friends at Tveten’s Auto Clinic
by tvetensautocliniccom on October 28, 2011
Subscribe to our monthly eNewsletter and stay in the loop with helpful vehicle tips, offers and rewards just for you!
Visit our website and sign up at the bottom of any page under “Sign-up for our Email Program.”
Remember, you can also Follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter too!
by tvetensautocliniccom on July 12, 2011
Air Conditioning, which was once considered a luxury, is now a common feature on most cars and vehicles today.
While the servicing of modern car air conditioning systems is best left to professionals, you can get the most enjoyment from your A/C system if you know a bit about how it works and what malfunctions you should be on the lookout for.
1. Odd smells coming from the air conditioning may be caused by bacterial build-ups in the A/C system.
As your car becomes older, or when the air conditioning system is used infrequently, bacteria, micro-organisms, mold and fungi may start growing, just behind the dash panel on the evaporator causing some very unpleasant odors. Some even claim this can result in headaches and flu like symptom sometimes referred to as “sick car syndrome.”
This problem can be solved by using an anti-bacterial treatment that destroys the bacteria growth and leaves your car smelling fresh again.
2. If your automobile does NOT feel cold enough, then you may need to recharge your system.
If you feel that your car doesn’t feel as cold as your friend’s car, then your system may need servicing. The air conditioning system in your vehicle is not usually covered by most manufacturers servicing schedules and the refrigerant gas that is used to operate the system depletes over time. This leakage can be caused when the system is not used during the winter months. Thus allowing the small “O” ring seals to dry out resulting in a gradual deterioration in system performance. If this continues, eventually the system will not be able to operate at all.
Most problems of this type can be put right fairly easily by a leak check of your system followed by a complete refill of your air conditioning refrigerant, this is sometimes referred to as a re-gas.
3. Running your air conditioning year round will help maintain the automobile A/C system.
If you run the air conditioning in the winter it will help to keep the system well lubricated and leak tight. This is because the refrigerant actually carries the oil that lubricates the system and most importantly the compressor. It also keeps the seals and hoses moist, thus preventing them from drying out and cracking which can lead to leaks.
4. Strange noises coming from the air conditioning should be attended to immediately.
If your air-con system suddenly starts making noises you have not heard before it is very advisable to have a qualified vehicle air conditioning specialist to have a look at it. Some noises could be early symptoms of a compressor failure (the compressor is the air conditioning pump). The compressor is usually the most expensive part on the system and if the bearings in your compressor break down or if the compressor seizes up it also means that other components can become contaminated with metal particles A flush of the system would then be needed as well as replacement of the compressor, the receiver/drier and the expansion valve – quite a hefty bill.
5. Don’t worry too much about a pool of water forming under your automobile after using the A/C.
If you see a puddle of water on the ground, usually under the passenger area don’t be alarmed. This is a normal feature of the system as it is only water dripping from the air conditioning evaporator. The evaporator has a drain tube fitted to allow the condensation from the evaporator to drain away from the vehicle.
6. Excessive moisture inside the car can be fixed easily.
Sometimes the drain tube from the evaporator may become blocked or detached allowing the condensation to build up inside your evaporator. If this occurs water will just build up inside your car to a point where there are damp carpets or misting / high humidity type problems. These problems can be solved with low-cost servicing.
7. Have your air conditioning serviced regularly, even if there are no visible problems.
Just as the other systems of your car need servicing on a regular basis, the same is true for the air conditioning system. The compressor needs oil, or else it will seize up. The filter collects debris and moisture. If the filter becomes blocked, then the performance of the system will deteriorate and it can even quit working entirely (probably when you need it most!)
Normally the refrigerant gas in a car air conditioning system has to be recharged completely within four years from the manufacture date and thereafter every two to three years.
An annual servicing of your car’s air conditioning system will guard against malfunctions in the compressor and other vital parts of the system. Regular maintenance will save you money in the long run and guarantee you comfort in the hottest months.
Schedule your A/C Appointment Online today!
www.autorepairtips.org
by tvetensautocliniccom on April 12, 2011
by tvetensautocliniccom on March 25, 2011
More customers are satisfied with the work of independent mechanics than with that of dealership mechanics.
People who took their car to an independent mechanic for maintenance were generally more satisfied than those who went to a dealership, according to a Consumer Reports survey involving 349,000 vehicles.
Eighty-four percent of owners reported being very satisfied with maintenance performed at independent shops compared with 77 percent at dealerships.
Most customers agreed that their independent shop was “very thorough and thoughtful, and always gives a good sense of how important something is to fix.”
Among owners whose cars needed repairs and maintenance, the difference in satisfaction with dealers and independent shops was even more pronounced: 75 percent were very satisfied with independents vs. just 57 percent with dealerships.
Bring your vehicle into Tveten’s Auto Clinic next time you need service!
Schedule your next appointment online!
By the Editors of Consumer Reports
by tvetensautocliniccom on January 31, 2011
Tveten’s Auto Clinic is helping to raise money for our community in 2011!
We have always given money to various community based and national organizations and in 2011 we are making it a primary goal to raise a lot more!
All of you are familiar with the Tveten’s Rewards Card and Customer Care Program.
We have reached out to the following Charities in the Puget Sound area and told them that we and our valued clients will be raising money for them throughout 2011. Effective immediately, we will allow you to donate all or a portion of your rewards dollars to any charity on this list OR a Charity of your choice.
- Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
- American Red Cross Boys and Girls Club of America
- Lakewood Relay for Life – American Cancer Society
- Coastal Conservation Association
If you are a member of any of these organizations or charities, please pass this information along to others so that they may see the benefits of coming to Tveten’s Auto Clinic.
The next time you are in for service just tell us which Charity or Charities you want to donate to and we will take care of it right away!
Please be sure to ask us about other ways we are helping our local community when you visit us next.
Schedule your next Appointment Online!
Thank you for your support!
by tvetensautocliniccom on January 10, 2011
All of us at Tveten’s Auto Clinic want to wish you a happy new year and thank you for your business.
We’d also like to thank all of those who attended our holiday open house. We had the highest attendance ever! Check out our photo album on Facebook.
