You step out into the driveway ready to start your morning commute only to discover a flat tire. How in the heck did that happen overnight? If the tire valve is missing its cap, the culprit might be a leaky valve. Those little caps keep out dirt and moisture that can cause leaks, so be sure to keep caps on all your tire valves. Another tip: When you replace tires, remind the tire shop that you would like new valves with the tires.

Under-inflated tires are a tire salesman’s best friend. They create excessive heat and stress that can lead to tire failure. If you want to get every last mile out of your tires, get yourself a tire pressure gauge and use it at least once a month (living in Arizona, you will want to check more often) to keep your tires inflated to the recommendation in the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Check tires when they are cold (driven for less than one mile) for an accurate reading.

If you top off your tires at a service station, check to see if there’s moisture coming from the air pump. Simply depress the pin inside the inflator valve with your thumbnail. If your thumb gets wet, advise the station manager that his tanks need to be drained and go to a different station. Moisture, trapped inside a tire, can cause pressure variations and corrode rims.

Check tires for uneven wear. If you’ve maintained tire inflation properly, uneven wear may indicate the need for wheel realignment. It can also mean improperly operating brakes or shocks, a bent wheel, internal tire damage, or worn bushings.

Most states require tires to be replaced when they have worn down to 1/16-inch of remaining tire depth. Tires sold inNorth Americaare required to have “wear bars” molded into them to make it easy to see when tire replacement is legally required. However, if you’ll be driving in the rain, you should change your tires when there is 1/8-inch of tread left. Otherwise, water may not escape from under your tires fast enough and you risk hydroplaning – a dangerous situation in which your car loses traction and literally floats on the water. To check tire depth, stick a quarter between the treads in several places. If part ofWashington’s head is always covered, you have enough tread to drive in the rain. If you drive in snow (Tucsonans don’t have to worry about that unless you drive up to the mountains) , you’ll need at least 3/16-inch of tread to get adequate traction. Stick a penny between the treads. If the top of theLincolnMemorial is always covered, you’re ready for winter driving.

Properly inflated tires will give the most efficient gas mileage. Tires that are properly inflated to the manufacturer’s specifications can improve gas mileage by as much as 3 percent over driving with improperly inflated tires!

At Micro Import Service, our technicians check your tire pressure/tread when you’re at the shop for maintenance or repairs. With the extreme temperatures inTucson, it is a good idea for you to check your tire pressure in between visits. But if you’re in the area, feel free to stop in and we can check them for you. And if you are not sure how to check tire pressure or tread, ask us and we’ll be happy to help! ]]> http://www.microserviceaz.com/tips-to-extend-the-life-of-your-tires/feed/ 0 http://www.microserviceaz.com/yelp-reviews/ http://www.microserviceaz.com/yelp-reviews/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:19:48 +0000 Trish http://www.microserviceaz.com/?p=539 Yelp Reviews

We love Yelp as it is a great way for the consumer to research local businesses, and based on reviews, make a decision on trying a new restaurant, or for instance, an automotive repair shop.   And when the consumer has had the opportunity to ‘try out’ the business, they can then post a review on what their experience was like.

Micro Import Service has a business listing on Yelp and we have had many ‘new customers’ find us through this site.  We have had the greatest reviews, nicest compliments, and Micro would like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to post a review.  Even if the review is not 100%, it is good to be informed so we can try to change or make improvements.

What prompted this blog post was due to Yelps review policy.  Not all reviews are shown after being posted, and although I understand Yelps reasons for filtering certain reviews, I feel bad for the customer that has taken time out of their busy day to post a review.  We want you to know we truly appreciate the review.

So for those of you not aware, when you check out reviews on a business, scroll to the bottom of the page where the reviews are listed and you will see ‘filtered reviews’.  Click on that link and it will take you to another section so that you can read all the reviews that were posted for the particular business you were researching.

Again, Micro Import Service appreciates the time you have all taken to write a review on our business…thank you!

Happy employees are productive employees.  And when it comes to your employees, little things can make a big difference.  Creating an employee break room is a small perk that can help refresh minds, build friendships and boost your bottom line.  I couldn’t agree more with this sentence; some of the information listed below I read in an article, believe it or not, from the The Costco Connection.  They actually have some great information in their monthly magazine.

If you have the space and money, create a break room with the convenience and coziness of a home kitchen.  Add a refrigerator, freezer and microwave to encourage employees to pack their lunches.  Water coolers, coffee pots, disposable dinnerware supplies and vending machines are nice extra touches.  Establish basic break room etiquette to keep your break room clean, stocked and free of moldy, unidentifiable food.  

The break room also works well as a place to hold those monthly meetings.  Our meetings are held the first Monday of every month, and Micro provides the lunch for this meeting.  The first half hour is spent eating, laughing, joking, and then we eventually role into ‘shop talk’ for the remainder of the time. 

In addition to serving as a diningroom, a break room should be a place where employees can escape from the noise and stress of work.  They should leave the area feeling re-energized, recharged, and ready to tackle their next project.  Paint the room a bright, cheery color that is different from the rest of the office to help change the scenery.  Hang a bullentin board to post announcements and memos and for employees  to post personal signs and ads.  Subscribe to trade journals and news publications so employees can read about the competition and current affairs during their downtime.

Providing food and beverages lets employees quickly boost their energy during the workday.  One economical option is to purchase snacks and beverages in bulk.  (Our snacks and beverages are purchased through Costco…love that store!)  To encourage a healthier working environment, provide nutritional snack options such as granola bars, microwave popcorn and dried fruits.  Here at Micro, this is a difficult task, but one I will try to do – the guys like their Dunkin Donuts 

Hope you enjoyed the read, and feel free to share it!

How would you like one free general admission to SIR Dragstrip plus lunch on Sunday April 15th?  Summit Super Series Team Race# 4 is racing that day; watch from the grandstands awesome fast cars racing down the 1/4 mile track.

So you want to know how to get this awesome deal, right?  Print out a copy of this Blog post and spend a minimum of $30 for any service from 04/03/12 – 04/13/12….that’s it!  So call Mike now at 520-795-8724 and make your appointment!  Quantities are limited to 10 admissions, so call now!*

* one free general admission per customer

What can happen from underinflated tires:

• Might cause an accident
• Increase tire wear which could burn through a set of $400 tires a year early.
• Waste gas.  How much gas?  The Department of Transportation estimates that 5 million gallons of fuel per day are wasted due to low tire pressure.  That’s more than 2 billion gallons per year, just because people don’t take the time to inflate their tires properly.

Checking Your Tire Pressure

Here’s how to check the pressure in your tires with the least amount of fuss:

1. Buy a digital tire gauge and keep it in the car.
2. Find the tire pressure level required for your car.  This information is usually on a yellow sticker in the doorjamb on the driver side.  You can also look in the owner’s manual for your car.  It might call for different pressure levels for the back tires and the front tires.
3. Check the pressure when the tires are cold.  Tires heat up as they drive.  They take about a half hour to cool down.  Or you can just check the tires first thing in the morning.
4. Unscrew the valve cap and set it to the side or in a pocket where you won’t lose it.
5. Press the tire gauge onto the valve stem.  There might be a slight hiss as you press down on the valve stem and again as you release it.  You only need to do this for a second or two, long enough to get an accurate reading.
6. Read the tire pressure on the digital gauge.  You might consider writing down the pressure of the tires as you go around the car.  You can refer to this when you fill up the tires.

Now you can compare the tire pressure readings you got with the specified amount called for by the manufacturer on the doorjamb or in the manual.  If the level of pressure in your tires is below the specified amount, you need to fill the tires with air.

For example, the sticker on the doorjamb may say that the recommended level is 32 psi (pounds per square inch).  When you check your tire you find it is 29 psi.  You need to bring your tire pressure up to spec.  It’s estimated that for every 3 psi below spec, you burn 1% more fuel (and add 10% more tire wear).  It’s not uncommon to be 10 psi below spec, whoch would waste 3% more fuel and increase tire wear by 45%.

Filling Your Tires

There are at least two ways to refill your tires to bring them up to specification.  You can go to an auto parts store and get a portable air compressor.  If you do this you can refill your tires at your house or in your garage.  Some of these compressors are cheap and not really up to the task of quickly inflating your tires.  Spend a few extra dollars to upgrade to a higher level compressor that connects to your battery terminals rather than running off the cigarette lighter.

Most people, however, will just refill their tires at the gas station.  When you are at Micro Import Service for any type of maintenance or repair, we will always check your tire pressure.  But temperature change can reduce the tire pressure, so you do not want to wait until your next visit to have your tires checked.

Adjusting Your Tire Pressure

Here are the steps needed to adjust the pressure in your tires:

1. Pull your car in close to the air compressor so the hose reaches all four tires.
2. Turn on the air compressor
3. Remove the stem caps and set them to the side or in a pocket.
4. Press the hose fitting down on the valve stem and press the lever.  You should feel air flowing through the hose and hear it inflating the tire.  This can take a little effort to hold the hose on the valve stem.
5. Check to see when you have enough air pressure in the tires by releasing the inflation lever.  The gauge on the hose fitting will show if you have approximately enough air pressure.  you can check it again later with your own gauge.  At this point, it is better to slightly overinflate the tire.
6. Adjust the pressure in all the tires in the same way.
7. Recheck the tire pressure with the digital gauge.  If the pressure is too high, press the gauge down just far enough to release some air from the tire.  Check it again.
8. Replace the valve caps on all the tires.

If you get in the habit of checking your tire pressure once a month, you will eventually find a good gas station that has a conveniently located air compressor.

And you are always welcome to stop by our shop and our technicians will check the tire pressure for you.

Now it’s time to enjoy improved fuel economy, reduced tire wear and – above all else – safe driving.

(article courtesty of Edmunds.com)

March 2002 through March 6, 2012

I was checking out this site today and the manufacturer’s of the child seat state that they will contact the owners of the child seat to make them aware of any recalls.  But if the child seat was passed over to a friend, purchased at a yard sale, moved and no forwarding address, etc., then the newest owner of the child seat would never receive a notice of the recall.  So this prompted me to provide the link.   If you or someone you know has a child seat, they can check out the site and verify their child seat is not listed in a recall.

The most recent recall was published on January 27, 2012.

Click on link to be directed to Safercar.gov’s website listing the last 10 years of child seat recalls.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm

So for those of you not familiar with the  function of the cabin air filter, I’ll give you a brief overview:

The cabin air filter is used to clean incoming air for the car’s heating and air conditioning system.  The purpose of the cabin air filter helps trap pollen, bacteria, dust, and exhaust gases that may find their way into a vehicle’s ventilitation system, making the interior of the car a healthier place.  Things such as dirt, mold, animal hair and fur can be found in a cabin air filter.  Some cabin air filters replaced make vacuum cleaner bags look clean.   So you can see the importance of following your owner’s manual for the suggested replacement schedule of the cabin air filter.  Usually every 15,ooo miles is the recommended replacement of the cabin air filter.  You can refer to your owner’s manual for the guidelines for your vehicle. 

Approximately 40% of cars have cabin air filters, but the number grows each year.  If you are not sure if your car has a cabin air filter, feel free to call Mike and ask him to check it out for you.  If you are a customer of Micro Import Service, we keep a complete history of work we complete for you each and every time you are in the shop.  And if you have a cabin air filter, we will inform you the service if it is needed.

Micro Import Service, Inc. is going to be hosting a Women’s Car Care Clinic on March 14th from 5:30-6:30pm. And there is no charge to you…this clinic is FREE! We will have beverages and snacks for you during the clinic. Spacing is limited, so email trish@microimportservice.com or call 520-795-8724, and reserve your spot!

Hope to see you there!

For those of you not aware of this, ever get in your car, put your car key in the ignition, and realize you can’t turn the car key? According to About.com Auto Repair, it happens to everybody. Before you rip the head off the key trying to force it, try this more gently approach. Your car has a steering lock that clicks into place when you take the car key out of the ignition. This prevents thieves from being able to steer your car if they hotwire it. Sometimes the wheel is turned to just the right place to keep your key from being able to disengage that steering wheel lock. All you have to do is turn the wheel a little bit in either direction while you turn the key, and voila! Everything’s moving again.

Ok, so I’m sure this gave a laugh to some because this is ‘old news’, but believe it or not, there are some of us out there that did not know the reason for the steering wheel locking in place. Just trying to be your source of information whether old news or new.

What a fantastic article in ConsumerReports!  This is an older article from early 2011, but the information is still very informative. 

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/best-and-worst-used-cars.html