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Your tires are the heart and soul of your vehicle. They get you where you need to go and keep you safe while you’re getting there. But too many people let their tires go until they fail an inspection, and if you go that long, it could be too late to avoid an accident due to lack of traction or a blown tire. Cavalier Mazda’s customers in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake want to safely drive their car for many years. Watch out for these telltale signs of tire wear to keep your driving experience pleasant and safe. Bulges, Cracks, and Gouges Your tires are made of rubber. They’re sturdy and thick but still vulnerable to the elements and wear. If you notice bulging at the sides of your tires, cracks in the sides, or anything else that looks wrong—grooves in the wrong places, for example—have your dealer check it out. Low Tread The penny test is a great way to keep an eye on your tire tread. Put a penny into the grooves in your tire tread with Lincoln’s head facing the inside of the tire. If you can still see the top of his head when the penny is in all the way, your tread is low and your tires need to be replaced. Air Pressure You’ll generally lose 1 pound of pressure from your tires per month. Keep an eye on your air pressure by checking it regularly. Certainly if your air pressure indicator light comes on, it’s time to put air in your tires. Your owner’s manual should have information on the ideal inflation rate; for most tires, it’s around 32 to 35 PSI. Don’t overinflate your tires, either, as this can cause them to wear unevenly or even burst. Vibration and Uneven Ride When your tires begin to wear down, you’ll feel it as you drive. Have you noticed an uneven, bumpy ride? Is the vehicle difficult to steer or control? Does the steering wheel vibrate? If you have anything less than the smooth ride you expect, you should take your car to get checked. It could be issues with your tires or it could be something more serious. Skidding When you stop at a red light then hit the gas when the light changes to green, do your tires spin and skid? Have you experienced slippage when you make a turn? This is almost certainly a sign that your tire tread is low and your tires need to be changed. Tire Wear and Tear Wear and tear on your tires is nothing to play around with. Over- or underinflated tires can create genuine safety issues as well as making your drive unpleasant. Accidents happen every year due to environmental conditions that may have been avoided had the driver maintained tire upkeep on his or her vehicle. If you think that your vehicle might need a tire checkup or rotation and you live in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, or Chesapeake, stop in to Cavalier Mazda today for a checkup. You can never be too safe!

The 2016 Mazda6 has been named one of "Ward's 10 Best Interiors," taking honors among a competitive set of 42 all-new interiors that includes cars, trucks, SUVs and crossovers at all price points. "When it launched two years ago as a '14 model, we said the all-new Mazda6 was arguably the best-looking midsize sedan on the planet, inside and out," said Tom Murphy, executive editor, WardsAuto World magazine. "Today, that statement remains true as a refreshed Mazda6 arrives with interior upgrades that put this sedan farther ahead of its rivals. The center console and instrument panel have been expertly redesigned to incorporate a new display screen and human-machine interface that works wonderfully. Overall, the new Mazda6 interior looks and feels state-of-the-art." In addition to its fresh interior design, the 2016 Mazda6 also has re-engineered front and rear seats for greater comfort and improved sound deadening. Mazda6 Sport models equipped with an available six-speed automatic transmission, as well as manual- and automatic-equipped Touring models and the Grand Touring trim, come with the MAZDA CONNECT™ suite of infotainment technologies that are displayed through a seven-inch color touchscreen display. MAZDA CONNECT™ also has a commander control knob for users who prefer using a scroll wheel for Mazda6's connectivity functions. Features include Bluetooth® phone pairing and audio streaming, Pandora®/AhaTM/StitcherTM radio and available navigation, SiriusXM® radio and a Bose® audio system. If that weren't enough, Mazda6 Grand Touring has an available head-up display when optioned with the Technology Package. "Mazda's global design team set the bar high in the 2016 Mazda6 with our efforts to create an environment that spoils its driver and passengers and provides a rewarding experience for the driver," said Derek Jenkins, director of design, Mazda North American Operations. "We're proud of our work and honored that it paid off with winning a 'Ward's 10 Best Interiors' award." Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. 1 Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). MSRP does not include $820 destination charge (Alaska $865), title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.

There are many factors that determine the life of a car battery, such as how you drive, weather conditions, and how much charge it is getting from the car. On average, the car battery will work most efficiently for a four year span. After four years the chemical compounds begin their slow decline and the battery will become less effective until it dies. It is important to realize that four years is the average battery span. The life of your car battery may be shortened if your car is subject to the following conditions. Your car is stored or operated under extreme temperatures - If the area you live and drive has extremely cold or extremely hot temperatures this may shorten the battery life. Powering a lot of accessories - As technology increases and is used with relative frequency, more and more items are being designed for use in cars. Unfortunately, the more items that are plugged in and using the battery's power, the quicker it will lose its effectiveness due to being overworked. So those who stream videos and music through the outlets in their car may need to replace their batteries sooner. Driving in mainly short commutes - The amount of electricity to start a car is higher than running it. When you are driving, the battery is getting the charge from the engine. If you mainly drive short distances, your battery will not have time to get fully charged and this may shorten the overall life of the battery. For auto service repairs in the Virginia area, schedule an appointment with Cavalier Mazda of Chesapeake, VA today. When your battery does start to decline, sometimes there are warning signs. An obvious sign would be that the car battery is dead, but don't assume it is just the battery as it could be the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery. Have your battery checked regularly at oil change and maintenance appointments. The mechanic will electronically check the health of your battery. Check the outside of the battery. Look for stains and corrosion which can indicate a battery leak. Buildup around the terminals can be cleaned with water and baking soda but please be sure to use protective gloves. Check for obvious smells. A battery that smells like rotten eggs or sulfur may be overheating and needs to be replaced. While it is not always possibly to detect problems with a battery before it dies, it is important to do your best to keep it maintained and not ignore signs that it may be not functioning properly. Some batteries work for longer, but that can have a lot to do with the driving and use of the car. When a battery fails, you not only have the inconvenience of having to replace it, but it can break down at inconvenient times. If you break down late at night or during a long road trip, you can be stranded along the road for some time. Depending on where this happens it may not only be inconvenient and time consuming, but unsafe as well. The best way to avoid an unexpected breakdown or driving complications is to make sure your service center regularly checks your battery for signs of deterioration. If you reside in the Chesapeake, Virginia area, Cavalier Mazda provides auto service for all types of cars and can assist you in the replacement, maintenance, or check-up of your car battery. Their service department is available Monday through Saturday.

If your front head light and fog lights on your Mazda don’t look crystal clear anymore and look like they have been covered with wax paper, then it may be time to clean them. Front lights are crucial for safety; especially when driving at night. Thankfully, you can clean them on your own. It will help you keep them looking new (which is awesome if you want to trade your Mazda in at some point). Do you want to learn how to clean your front lights? Check out the following tips to help you keep your fog lights and head lights looking like new. Getting Started When cleaning your front lights, the first thing you will want to do is to inspect them so that you know exactly which approach to take. If you notice that your headlights are a little hazy, you will want to inspect them in the daylight (both on and off) to figure out the extent of the damage. This will help you determine whether they need to be examined professionally or if your headlights need to be replaced. You will also be looking for major scratches or abrasions that could signal something more serious. Wash your front lights with car soap If your Mazda is plagued with the usual road grime and grit, this can make analysis quite difficult. Therefore, before you begin looking for issues; simply wash your front lights with car wash soap and warm water. After they have dried, you must look for any specific issues. Are your front lights hazy? Haziness occurs when the hard coat on your lights has worn off which allows the soft polycarbonate that is underneath to be exposed. If this is the issue, performing a quick clean will effectively slow down the degeneration of your headlights. However, it is important to note that a more comprehensive cleaning may be needed. Yellow Front Lights? Yellowing occurs when the hard coat begins to thin out and is losing adhesion to the polycarbonate lens. The UV wavelength spectrum creates a reaction in the carbonic chain which will allow for the absorption of blue light. The end result of this is a yellowish tint to your lights. If this is the case, you will need to perform a more comprehensive cleaning. This can be done with Rain-X or a polishing compound which will help clean your front lights and correct the damage that was caused. Cracks and Peeling? When the hard coat on your front lights begins to deteriorate, spotting will begin to occur in certain areas; like the corners or the upper region. In addition, it may look as if the hard coat is peeling or flaking off. This will eventually lead to deep cracks in the lens which means that your headlights/fog lights will need to be professionally resurfaced or replaced. In the meantime, you can clean them up as much as you can. Use the above method while you begin to price new lights. Are your front lights made out of glass? The front lights on the majority of vehicles are made out of plastic and will display the symptoms described above. However, glass headlights are found on older models which makes cleaning them more complicated. These types of lights should be examined by service professionals. Therefore, if your glass headlights are showing signs of wear, take them in and have them checked. Are you in the Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and/or Norfolk area and want your front lights professionally cleaned? Stop by Cavalier Mazda today to get the job done quickly and efficiently.