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The typical life of a battery is anywhere from 2-5 years but we often hear of people complaining that they are replacing their batteries every 1-2 years. Well, there is good news. There are several ways you can increase the lifespan of your vehicle’s battery. Everything works better when clean, and that goes for your vehicle’s battery as well. Battery terminals are common spots for corrosion build-up which blocks the current’s flow from the battery to the cables. You can typically scrape the corrosion away with a screwdriver or pliers but if it looks extreme, and a simple scraping doesn’t do the trick, please take it to a mechanic. While cleaning off any corrosion on the battery terminals, you should also use a damp rag to wipe off the battery casing. Dirt and other gunk that sit on the casing of your battery can actually drain its power. Temperature changes take away from the life of your battery therefore it’s wise to invest in a car battery insulation kit that will keep your battery warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Battery sleeves are usually plastic or acid resistant/thermal resistant material that insulates your battery but still allows it to vent. It is also important to maintain proper water levels for optimum battery life. At every scheduled maintenance we suggest verifying the water level is correct. If necessary, you or your mechanic may use distilled water (only) to the battery cell. If you would like to take a peek yourself, you can shine a light at the front of the battery case which should show you the water in your battery, and a mark to show you the level at which it should be. If you have a black battery casing then the process is a bit more complicated and we suggest a professional check that for you. Lastly, we recommend you avoid operating car accessories if the car is not running. Small things such as a phone charger, an interior light, or even running the radio will drain your vehicle’s battery more so if the vehicle is not “on”. Hopefully, with the use of these tips, you will get the most of your vehicle’s battery life. Please give the professionals at Valley Motor Center a call if you have any questions about what you’ve read in this article or are concerned about any other areas of your vehicle. We are here for you 7 days a week! 818-909-5444

It’s always a good idea to give your car a full interior cleaning every so often so junk and miscellaneous items don’t accumulate. Not only are these extra items annoying they can be hazardous. In even a minor traffic collision, everything in your car that isn’t strapped down becomes a high speed projectile. Scary thought, huh?!? Another good reason to unclutter your vehicle is that less weight in the car will give you better gas mileage. And who doesn’t want better gas mileage? The Valley Motor Center team has compiled a list of some decluttering and organizational tips for your vehicle. “Stuff” accumulates in the funniest places in a vehicle. The most popular place “stuff” builds up is what we call the Quarter & French Fry Eating Hole. You know this hole well. It’s directly between your driver’s seat and the center console. Did you know that over 3,000 deaths a year are caused by people trying to fish something random out of the Quarter & French Fry Eating Hole while driving? We have an answer to that annoying hole. Plug it up! You can make a plug yourself using something like a seal for insulating a window air conditioning unit or potentially some foam or other material you can fit in there. There’s also a product called The Drop Stop that affixes to your seatbelt so it doesn’t also get lost if you need to move your seat. If you don’t have something to plug the hole, please don’t go fishing while driving next time your phone, lip gloss or warm, toasty french fry goes lurching down the hole. While decluttering, make sure you look at what’s fallen down said Quarter & French Fry Eating Hole and make sure you get everything. While you’re down there, pull out any other loose items that made their way under the seat. It’s like a mini treasure trove down there! Speaking of treasure troves, the center console can also be a cave of riches. To sort out the treasure from the trash, clear out the entire console and then put back only what you need. Your cup holders are one of the most popular places to toss gum wrappers, coins, your phone, and any other small item you just don’t know what to do with. Don’t forget to completely empty those out while doing your deculttering. Another spot that we forget even exists is the door pocket. No, it’s not actually made to be your car’s junk drawer. But, if it’s convenient to use it as such, you’ll want to pull all items out of the pocket and sort through everything to decide what you need to keep and what should be moved or tossed. Where’s one place that many of us stuff things, typically important papers, and for some reason continue to stuff more and more things (like emergency napkins)? The glove compartment of course! A great idea is to use a thin coupon organizer or recipe file to not only organize but have fast access to your car’s most vital papers. Last but not least we have the floors and trunk. If you need as much floor space as possible then you may think about getting an organizer that fits on the back (or front) of the seats. If you can find a multi-bin organizer for your trunk, preferably with a Velcro bottom so it doesn’t roll around everywhere, then you can use that to keep your items organized and secure. We hope these tips will come in handy next time you decide to declutter and organize your vehicle. Please give us a call if we can help you in any way. We are here 7 days a week! 818-909-5444

In a warm climate like Southern California, wiper blades should be replaced every year. There are many signs your wiper blades are wearing out and need replacing. Lately we haven’t been getting much rain in Southern California so we don’t have many opportunities to use our windshield wipers. The problem usually comes to light when, all of a sudden, a storm rolls into town and you have to pop those wipers on to clear your windshield. Last time you used the wipers they cleared off the windshield just fine. Now you are surprised to find that instead of clearing your windshield, your wiper blades are causing streaks and making it difficult to see. “Streaking” occurs when the rubber squeegee dries, hardens and cracks. It can also be caused by road tar, tree sap, dust, and other foreign substances collected on either the glass or the blade. To help your wipers have a longer life you should clean your windshield every time you stop and get gas. You can also wipe off your windshield wiper blades when you clean the windshield to keep debris from adhering and hardening on them. “Skipping” is another side effect of not using those wipers on a regular basis. The blade develops a curvature from the lack of use. If you see that your wiper blade develops an unnatural curve you’ll want to buy replacement blades before the next rainstorm hits. An issue that we see a lot at Valley Motor Center Autobody is something called “Splitting”. Splitting is caused when the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate the rubber squeegee of the wiper blade, causing it to breakdown and separate from the frame. Sunny, warm climates like we have cause the rubber to deteriorate faster than cloudy, cooler climates. Keep an eye on those blades to make sure they are flexible. Once hardening or splitting begins, you should buy new blades immediately. In some cases, the wiper blade may be in perfect working condition but the arm frame is warped therefore not allowing the wiper to have full contact with the windshield. In this case you may need to replace the entire assembly. Now that you know more about the signs of wiper wear, you’ll be able to monitor the life of them much more easily and replace them before you are stuck with a windshield you can’t see clearly out of. If you have questions about what you’ve read or about any other part of your vehicle, please call Valley Motor Center Autobody in Van Nuys and speak with one of our experts. We are here to assist you 7 days a week! 818-909-5444

If your vehicle has been repaired recently, we would like to offer some helpful car washing tips that you might not have thought of. WASHING Attempt to wash your vehicle in the shade. Hand wash your vehicle with cool water containing a mild car wash soap and use a soft cloth, mitt, or sponge. If available, use a second bucket containing clean water to rinse the dirt out of the cloth, mitt, or sponge each time before dipping it into the suds. Thoroughly rinse your vehicle and then dry it with a wet chamois cloth or clean microfiber towel. Be careful and try not to wipe your vehicle with a dry cloth as this can cause scratching. WAXING We recommend not waxing your vehicle for at least the first three months after picking it up. When you are ready to wax, always wash your vehicle before doing so. Use a good quality, non-abrasive wax or polish formulated for clear coat finishes and apply according to the product's instructions. Do not use waxes or polishes that contain silicone. Periodic waxing is an important step in properly maintaining your vehicle's finish. SCRATCHES Minor surface scratches can be buffed out of your vehicle's clear coat, but deep ones cannot. Generally speaking, a scratch is too deep if you can "catch" your finger or thumbnail in the scratch when you drag your nail across it. If this situation occurs, it may be possible to wet sand the scratched surface and then buff it. Wet sanding is strictly for professionals. Our professionals at Valley Motor Center can advise you on what can be buffed or wet sanded and what can't. BIRD DROPPINGS If you're lucky enough to find the mess while it's still wet, use a damp cloth and wipe it off immediately. However, when you find it, if it is dried and caked on, soak a paper towel with warm water and place it on the mess until it softens. Then, wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Bird droppings contain acids that will etch into painted surfaces if not dealt with quickly. Be mindful of where you park. Parking under trees or wires should be avoided, if possible. HOUSEHOLD SOAPS AND DETERGENTS Dish soaps or laundry detergents are not your best choices. These soaps will damage your paint over time. Try to use soap designated for use on car finishes. Car wash soap can be purchased at just about any automotive parts store. OTHER HELPFUL TIPS: • Do not set objects on your vehicle. When objects are moved, even slightly, they can cause surface scratches. And never, ever sit on your car! • Touch-up chips and deep scratches as soon as possible. Left unattended, a chip or scratch down to the bare metal will begin to rust very quickly. Quick action on your part will help prevent this from happening. • Avoid gravel roads and following large trucks. Paint can chip fairly easily when hit with small stones, especially within the first 30 days after being painted. • Do not park under trees that are known to drop sap or near factories with heavy smoke fallout. Tree sap and industrial fallout can spot and damage painted surfaces. • Do not spill gasoline, oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, or windshield washer solvent on newly painted surfaces. If you do, rinse with water immediately. • Do not scrape ice or snow from a newly painted surface. Your snow scraper can act like a paint scraper if the finish is new. • Use common sense! If you think some substance or action may be hard on the paint, it probably will be. If you have any questions on caring for your car just give us a call at 818.909.5444 or visit our website at www.ValleyMotorCenter.com! We are here to help you. Happy driving!

TAKING CARE OF YOUR VEHICLE'S LEATHER If you want your vehicle's leather to retain it's beauty, you must take care of it, clean it and condition it. It is much easier to spend a little time protecting and conditioning your vehicle's leather, than spending the money to save it after it has been damaged. Leather surfaces are just like beautiful, delicate skin. Leather must be carefully cleansed before it can be properly conditioned. As leather ages, it loses essential protectants infused into the leather during the manufacturing process. That leaves the leather susceptible to dirt, oils, and UV damage. To keep leather looking and feeling its best, you must first clean it and then replace the lost moisture and protection. PROPER CARE TAKES TWO STEPS STEP ONE: First you need to select a pure leather cleaner that is free of petroleum solvents, silicone oils, or gloss agents. It should be applied with a microfiber application pad/towel or a leather and vinyl scrub brush. It is important to use an agitating motion, NOT a scrubbing motion. Agitation opens the pores of the leather and allows dirt and body oils to rise to the surface of the leather where it can be wiped away. STEP TWO: After cleaning your leather thoroughly, the next step is to apply a high quality leather conditioner. High quality conditioners are designed to nourish and moisturize your leather. They are engineered to absorb deep into your vehicles' leather fibers' cells, allowing the fibers to retain their resilience, and prohibit premature aging. IMPORTANT! Inexpensive conditioners leave a greasy finish that can transfer to clothing. For the best results select a water-based, pH-balanced leather conditioner. With a little time and proper care, your vehicle's leather will remain soft, supple, and inviting for years to come! ? If you have any questions on caring for your car just give us a call at 818.909.5444 or visit our website at www.ValleyMotorCenter.com! We are here to help you. ? Happy driving!