Is your vehicle's air conditioning ready for summer?

As we leave winter behind and head into spring now is the time to look at a preparing your vehicle for those long summer road trips. Your vehicle’s Air Conditioning System is a vitally important componant and as part of your HVAC system (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) it is designed to perform three things:

1. Remove Heat
2. Remove Moisture
3. Filter the Air in the Cabin

Your vehicles air conditioning is essential in helping to keep you alert during long road journeys by providing you with a more cool and comfortable environment to drive in. Having vehicle air conditioning used to be considered a luxury, but now the majority of vehicles have it as standard.

10 Ways to Become a Better Driver

1. Know the rules of the road.

Here's an obvious yet surprisingly effective way to become a better driver: re-acquaint yourself with the DMV Driver Handbook. It may sound like a dull homework assignment, but downloading the Driver's Handbook PDF from your state's DMV website will shed light on those murky rules of the road; it will also bring you up to speed on new laws that may have been enacted since you took your driver's exam in 1982. 

2. Keep your system clean.

How can you expect to make the most of your natural driving talents if they're impaired by drugs or alcohol? Maximize your abilities by choosing not to mix drugs or booze with driving; that way, you'll be able to access 100 percent of your reflexes and decision making for accident avoidance. Bonus? You'll never have to deal with the devastating effects of a DUI.

10 Top Tips for Spring Cleaning your Vehicle

What winter we had, is finally over and now it's time to think about sunnier days and April showers. Has your vehicle benefited from the same maintenance you're currently doing to your house? Spring is the beginning of long weekend getaways and vacation road trips, and taking the time to perform seasonal maintenance today can help avoid any problems later.

Here are our Top 10 tips for getting your car ready for the spring. Some will help your vehicle look (and smell) better, but most are designed to help it perform more efficiently and get better gas mileage.

1. Clean Your Undercarriage.

Winter road salt can be a real problem for the modern car by eating away at its undercarriage, not to mention the chunks of road debris that collects underneath your vehicle during the winter months. Head to the car wash and spring for the undercarriage cleaning option, alternatively you can get a detailer to do a thorough cleaning job if you prefer. Spring is also a good time to check your entire vehicle for rust, which can worsen during the winter months.

Getting those new tires just got easier!

Just in time to help with selecting those new tires, the Curry's website has a new tire selector and fitment guide to help you peruse your options online. All it takes is a few clicks and you can enter your vehicle information and you'll be able to see what your options are in an instant. Tell us where you are and your nearest Curry's location will either call or email you with an accurate quote for the tires you selected.

Now, the first question we always get asked is, "Why do I have to get a quote, can't I just order them online, then come in and have them fitted?"

See Clearly: Headlight Restoration

Are your headlights a little dull? Are you having difficulty seeing while driving at night? (but you know your eyesight is good?). We have a quick fix to help your visibility and make sure you are safe while driving at night. Headlight restoration is an inexpensive procedure that we can perform during your next visit. This is a quick and simply way to bring brilliant, bright light back into your night driving.

Regular Oil Changes is Critical Car Maintenance

We say this everyday. Here's a nice overview and reminder on why our engines need this service!

Danny's Engine Portal: Regular Oil Changes is Critical Car Maintenance: Despite the sophistication of today's advanced automotive engines, the old-fashioned act of changing the oil is still the most critical piec...

Why Do I Need a Transmission Service?

One of the most critical, unobtrusive and, therefore, often neglected parts of a vehicle is the transmission. While it isn't as maintenance-intensive as the brake system, for example, both manual and automatic transmissions require at least periodic inspections if not regular service to prolong their life. But before we explain how to best service transmissions, a brief explanation of how one works is required.

The transmission multiplies torque from the engine through a gear reduction and/or torque conversion. A typical manual transmission has anywhere from four to six speeds with the final or highest gear being either a direct 1:1 drive ratio or an "overdrive" ratio, less than 1:1. For the most part, they are trouble-free (except for the clutch, which can be problematic if adjusted incorrectly or abused). An automatic transmission, on the other hand, multiplies engine torque as it passes through the fluid coupling known as the "torque converter" and then through three or more separate gear ratios. The transmission oil is critical for lubricating the transmission and reducing friction. When the fluid breaks down and loses its viscosity, it no longer effectively lubricates the transmission. This causes premature and excessive wear and results in transmission failure.