Quality Plus Automotive - October 2021

Quality Plus Automotive - October 2021

October 2021

Keeping Up With the Tuneups Taking Care of Your Car So It Can Take Care of You I’m that guy who buys a car and drives it 300,000 miles. When people come to my shop and trust their car with me, my goal is to make that car last at least 200,000 miles — that’s a minimum! Twice a year, in April and October, the Car Care Council brings awareness to regular car maintenance and care. Fall brings falling leaves, temperatures, and snow. Regular, year-round maintenance is important for your vehicle, just like your body. You need to visit the doctor on a regular basis, sometimes just for a check-up, to be proactive and prevent any health issues. Cars are the same way. So, in fall, it is important to service your vehicle to get that tuneup done and prepare your car for the new season. Check your vehicle’s fluids. Just like our bodies, cars need their fluids to be clean, up to date, and within the right amount and concentration to run properly. Be sure to check your oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and power steering fluid. If you find that your oil needs to be changed or your vehicle is running low on brake fluid, get your car into the shop! In cooler winter months, antifreeze is a good idea to keep your vehicle from freezing over. Test out your battery. In hot summer months, the heat can drain your car battery. Check to see if your battery is charging and discharging correctly and that there is no corrosion anywhere on it. It is also wise to ensure that all of the battery’s connections are secured tightly. The last thing you want is for your battery to die on you when it’s chilly outside. Check your belts and hoses. Your belts and hoses are kind of like the tendons and ligaments in our bodies. They hold everything together and help things work as a team underneath

the hood. Check for any leaks and inspect the belts and hoses for any signs of wear and tear. If you find something that looks a little old and worn, replacing it before it causes any problems is your best bet. Don’t forget your tires. Whether you are in the summer or the winter, having reliable and safe tires is essential. You need to have adequate tread on your tires for traction to avoid any safety hazards. Examine your tires for any bumps or bald spots. Signs of uneven wear typically point to requiring a wheel alignment in the near future. You should also check your tire pressure on a regular basis. Keep in mind that in cold climates, tire pressure can drop anywhere from 1–2 pounds per square inch for every 10 degrees in temperature. Check those brakes. Just as important as the engine is your car’s braking system. We rely heavily on our brakes, especially in the cold months. If your brakes are squeaking, or your pads are wearing thin, it may be time for some TLC. Be sure to have your brakes inspected by a professional, as brakes save lives! Test your lights and windshield wipers. Lights and windshield wipers are essential for dark or rainy driving conditions because you want to be able to see and be seen. Check that both your interior and exterior lights are functioning properly and that your wiper blades are not rubbing or leaving streaks. Visibility while driving is paramount for the safety of yourself and others on the road. By taking proper care of your vehicle, you are prolonging its reliability. Your car is a piece of mechanical equipment, and things will need to be replaced and tuned up over time. A vehicle is the second most expensive item most people own next to a house. We get in our cars every day and trust them with our lives. Do right by your car and yourself and keep up with the maintenance!

Wake Forest • 919.453.0345 — Raleigh • 919.231.6164 -Randy Bunn

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Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

Corn Mazes Date Back to Ancient Greece? A HISTORICAL LOOK AT THIS WACKY FALL TRADITION Exploring a corn maze is a great way to get outside and enjoy the fall season with friends and family — but who came up with the idea of wandering around a corn field for fun? As it turns out, outdoor mazes are an ancient tradition, and the American corn maze of the ‘90s sprouted from the mazes of 17th-century European gardens. Don’t believe it? Here’s a quick tour of corn maze history.

It’s All in CAR W AN IMPORTANT S

Something as simple as windshield wipers can make all the difference in the safety of your vehicle. Although wiper blades pack a huge punch when it comes to visibility, they are oftentimes forgotten about or neglected. We get it — servicing your car regularly and remembering all of the components is a lot! When you’re driving, seeing everything in front of and surrounding your vehicle is just as important as making sure that your brakes properly function. After all, what good is being able to stop if you can’t see what you’re stopping for? Changes in temperature and humidity as well as large amounts of usage can wear out your windshield wiper blades. When this happens, it is time to invest in some new ones.

The Minotaur and the Maze Have you heard of Theseus and the Minotaur? This ancient Greek legend tells the story of the hero Theseus, who ventured into an elaborate maze to kill the half-man, half-bull imprisoned there. The

Signs It’s Time for NewWiper Blades

• Your windshield is streaking after usage. • Your wipers are squeaking during usage.

monstrous Minotaur was known to eat heroes, and the labyrinth was known to trap them, but Theseus managed to slay the Minotaur and find his way home with the help of a string that he unspooled as he walked. This story isn’t the first recorded example of a maze or labyrinth — according to the World History encyclopedia, “[L]abyrinths and labyrinthine symbols have been dated to the Neolithic Age in regions as diverse as modern-day Turkey, Ireland, Greece, and India, among others”— but it’s perhaps the most famous ancient tale. If you’ve ever navigated a Halloween corn maze staffed by ghouls and ghosts, you can see the parallels! Garden Art to Get Lost In Mazes formed from bushes began popping up European gardens in the 17th century. They were a popular artistic feature of upper-class gardens in England, more for looking at than solving. One famous example is the half-mile-long Hampton Maze, which was planted in 1690 and still stands today. The Corn Maze: An American Invention Garden mazes eventually hopped the pond to America but didn’t become interactive puzzles until Don Frantz, Creative Director of the American Maze Company, came on the scene. In 1993, Frantz created the “first ever cornfield maze for private and public entertainment” to attract college kids in Pennsylvania. Today, every small-town corn maze is a descendant of his “Amazing Maize Maze.”To learn more about that wacky history, visit AmericanMaze.com.

Inspire

pump the brakes ... It’s puzzle time!

2 QualityPlusAutomotive.com

It’s Electrifying!

the Blades

WIPERS: SAFETY COMPONENT

• Your wipers are not moving when they are activated. • The rubber splitting on the wiper arms is peeling off. • The blades are coming off the windshield.

To change your windshield wiper blades, you must measure the length of your current blades or check your vehicle’s manual for the proper size. Once you purchase new blades, to remove your old ones, simply lift the blade’s arm away from the windshield, press down on the tab under the wiper, and slide the blade off while pulling downward. Then, pull the new blade onto the wiper arm. You will hear a clicking sound when it is in place. Lower the arm back onto the windshield and repeat the process on the other side. If you need assistance in inspecting your windshield wiper blades, picking out new blades, or changing them out, you can always contact the professionals at Quality Plus Automotive!

Taking a Glimpse at Jeep’s Hybrid Wrangler 4xe

What? A Jeep hybrid?

Safety first!

The JeepWrangler, both an off-roader and family car, is getting a makeover. The 4xe, pronounced “four-by-e”, adds some fuel efficiency to what has never been a fuel-friendly vehicle. If you see the 4xe out on the road, you’ll be hard pressed to try to differentiate between the normal Wranglers and the electric plug-in hybrid. Each 4xe sports a tiny bit of blue trim, a “Wrangler Unlimited” logo on the side of the vehicle, and a “Trail Rated” badge. The only true identifier to the Wrangler’s new powertrain option is a small black door at the base of the A-pillar that houses the charging port. The 4xe has three drive modes, one for every occasion: “Hybrid,” “Electric,” or “E-Save.”The hybrid mode combines electric and gas power, while electric mode is powered only off of the battery until the charge runs dry. E-Save mode prevents the vehicle from using any battery power, saving it for later. There is one more button that controls the regenerative braking of the 4xe called “Max Regen.” It turns on one- pedal driving — the Jeep will slow down when you pull off the throttle but won’t completely stop. This can be more helpful for city driving. When the battery is fully charged, you can get up to 21 miles of electric, zero-emission driving, which is perfect for short trips around the town. When the battery power runs dry, the 2-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine takes over. When you add the electric horsepower to the 270 horsepower from the engine, you top out at 375 horsepower and 470 pounds per foot of torque. That crushes the standardWrangler! Although it’s a hybrid, it still remains a true, traditional Jeep Wrangler, and the best part is that it qualifies for Uncle Sam’s $7,500 Federal EV Tax Credit. With better fuel efficiency, kinder emissions, a stronger horsepower, how could you go wrong?

This healthy, savory soup is the perfect lunch for a cool fall day.

red by SugarAndSoul.co

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Salt and pepper, to taste 4 cups chicken broth 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp Italian seasoning 3 cups kale, chopped 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

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1 tbsp vegetable oil

4 Italian chicken sausages, sliced to bite-size pieces

• • •

6 cloves garlic

1 onion, chopped

6–7 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed

1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook 4–5 minutes, stirring often, then remove from the pot and set aside. 2. Add garlic and onion to the pot. Sauté 4–5 minutes. Add squash, salt, and pepper. Sauté 8 minutes. 3. In a slow cooker, combine sautéed vegetables, sausage, chicken broth, and seasonings. Cook on low heat for 3 hours and 30 minutes. 4. Open the pot and add the kale. Cook another 20 minutes, then add the red wine vinegar and stir to combine. Cook 10 more minutes, then serve and enjoy!

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Wake Forest 919.453.0345 Raleigh 919.231.6164

QualityPlusAutomotive.com 1601 Heritage Commerce Ct. Wake Forest, NC 27587

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INSIDE This Issue

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Keeping Up With the Tuneups Corn Mazes Date Back to Ancient Greece? Why Car Wipers Are So Important Slow Cooker Squash, Kale, and Sausage Soup Jeep’s Hybrid Wrangler 4xe Is Electrifying! Corn Maze Safety

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Fun for All This Fall 5 CORN MAZE SAFETY TIPS Fall brings apple cider, pumpkin patches, fun seasonal outfits, and corn mazes. Unless you are visiting a “haunted” corn maze, you and your family probably won’t be chased by a chainsaw-wielding serial killer while you try to navigate through. However, safety risks are still present. Here are five safety tips to keep the fun coming during your next corn maze experience. Follow the rules. At the entrance to each corn maze, there should be a sign stating the rules for visitors. For the safety of yourself, your children, and others, be sure to read each rule and follow along. Always accompany your kids in the corn maze — it is a maze, after all! Watch for tripping and fire hazards. Keep your eyes peeled for any obstacles on the path, including holes, bumps, ruts, and corn stalks. While navigating a maze, it can be easy to forget to look down while searching for the exit. To prevent fires, you should also avoid smoking and never use matches or lighters. Wear proper footwear. Ensure that you and your family all have proper footwear, preferably closed-toed shoes, while exploring the maze. You never know what kind of critters or potentially harmful hazards may appear in your path.

Eat beforehand and stay hydrated. Be sure to eat before setting out into the maze and don’t bring any glass bottles with you, as it can be dangerous if broken. Furthermore, do not consume alcohol before or while enjoying your time at the corn maze. Be prepared. Accidents can happen, usually at the most unexpected times! It is important to always have a first-aid kit handy. Be sure to call 911 in an emergency and let staff know what is going on.

As long as safety is the top priority this fall, fun will be had by all!

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