Mazda Winter Car Care

When people think of spring cleaning, they don’t usually consider their vehicles. However, giving your Mazda or another car a good wash, inside and out, is important, especially if you live in an area that was inundated with snow this winter. When you drive in snowy conditions, it is likely that your automobile has accumulated salt in locations underneath the body and in the wheel wells. Salt left in these areas or in any other places on your car can cause corrosion. Erosion caused by de-icing products can damage the exhaust and muffler system, coil springs, and the car frame. A good spring cleaning of your auto will fend off the corrosive qualities of salt and other de-icers as well as give your vehicle that new-car feel.  Here are a few tips from your Norfolk Mazda dealer: Waxing Protects Your Car: Following a good wash job, you should apply wax as a final finish to your vehicle's exterior. Wax not only adds shine and curb appeal, it protects your paint job. Flying debris, accumulating contaminates, and UV rays all contribute to breaking down and/or chipping away at your exterior paint. Wax is your first line of defense against all of these assaults. According to Consumer Reports, liquid waxes are the best choice above spray and paste products. For the best protection, Consumer Reports advises reapplying within five weeks of each application. Interior Cleaning Averts Rusting: Remove any trash, and give the interior of your vehicle a good vacuuming and scrubbing. Popular Mechanics advises that "being thorough with the carpet is important, as it can act like a filthy, salty, wet rag that accelerates rusting. When you're done, pull the drain plugs under the floor, and let things air out for a few days." Everyone deals with tough stains from time to time. For those really difficult areas, steam cleaning does wonders. Most detail services can help you out with this type of cleaning. For leather, be sure to use a leather cleaner. When cleaning your windows, spray the glass cleaner on the cloth, not directly on the window – this helps eliminate streaking. Change Those Wiper Blades: Winter is tough on windshield wipers. In preparation for those inevitable spring showers, it is a good idea to replace your vehicle's wiper blades. You want to have the best visibility possible to ensure maximum safety for you and your family. If your current windshield wiper blades leave streaks or do not remove water efficiently, it’s probably time for a change. Consumer Reports offers this advice: "Our tests have found that most blades are ready for replacement after just six months, but you can try extending their service life by wiping them with a cloth and glass cleaner before removing them." A Few More Maintenance Items for Spring: Check your tires, and be sure to switch out your winter tires to avoid excess wear. Inspect your ventilation system, or have a mechanic or detailing company perform regular maintenance, and make certain to change the cabin's air filter regularly. Finally, ensure all fluids are topped off and/or changed per a maintenance schedule. Cavalier Mazda wishes you and your family a happy spring. The following are five locations where you can take your vehicle for a spring cleaning in Norfolk, VA: Reliable Auto Detailing Divine Touch SSS Express Car Wash Pro Detailing Xtreme Detailing Be sure to stop by and check out our selection of new and used Mazdas, or just stop in to say hello! The staff at Cavalier Mazda is ready to help you. We are conveniently located at: 1552 S Military Hwy Chesapeake, VA  23320 Call us today at 888-854-7370. Related articles Preparing Your Car For Spring: Service Tips for your Mazda Vehicle

With Winter coming to an end, it's time to prepare your Mazda vehicle for the upcoming Spring weather. Taking the time to properly care for your vehicle will ensure its optimal performance and appearance for many years to come. Scheduling routine maintenance here at Cavalier Mazda is a great way to ensure that your vehicle is ready for Spring. Checking Your Tires Now's the perfect time to change your vehicle's snow tires back to your standard all-season tires. Since temperature fluctuations can drastically alter tire pressure, your tires should be checked for proper inflation once you've made the switch. To avoid other tire damages, including rust and wear, head over to Cavalier Mazda's service department where they can inspect, balance, and rotate your tires, as well as perform a pressure check. Located at 1552 S. Military Blvd, Chesapeake, VA 23320, Cavalier Mazda offers Mazda owners routine services with convenient department hours available Monday-Saturday. Replacing Engine Fluids The condition of your engine's fluids can be affected by a harsh Winter. It's important to have your engine's fluid levels, and condition, checked to determine whether they need to be topped off or replaced. Checking Your Engine Coolant: One of the most important fluids to be aware of is your engine's coolant as it prevents the engine from freezing in the Winter and overheating in the warmer months. It also plays an important role in your vehicle's air conditioning since the engine's temperature affects its performance. As a rule of thumb, a vehicle's coolant should be flushed and replaced at least once every two years. Scheduling an Oil Change: Now's also a good time to have your oil and its filter changed. Oil changes are crucial when it comes to extending the life of your Mazda vehicle. In the Winter months, motor oil can be affected by acid buildup which can in turn negatively affect your engine's components. Changing your oil will enhance your engine's performance and helps to prevent engine trouble from occurring in the future. Oil changes should be completed about four times a year and can be scheduled here at Cavalier Mazda in Chesapeake, VA. After Winter is a great time to schedule your appointment so your Mazda vehicle is ready to go when Spring arrives. Cleaning Your Mazda Vehicle's Interior & Exterior Keeping your vehicle's interior and exterior clean, by removing dirt and grime, will greatly improve its overall appearance. With a little extra TLC after the Winter months you can be sure that your vehicle is ready for Spring. Your Vehicle's Interior: During the Winter months you'll likely track snow and salt into your car's interior, leaving the floor looking dirty and worn. Now's a great time to have your Mazda vehicle detailed before spring arrives to keep it looking its very best. Your Mazda's Exterior: The exterior of a vehicle can also take a beating during the Winter especially due to the salt on the roads. To gain back its sleek, shiny appearance a trip to the car wash should be a top priority. With Spring on its way, rainy weather can also be expected making it the ideal time to have your vehicle waxed. A professional wax job will prevent rain spots from developing on your vehicle's finish and helps to extend the life of its paint. By following these tips your Mazda vehicle will be in great shape by the time Spring arrives. A little maintenance can go a long way and when it comes to your Mazda's performance it's well worth the effort.  For more advice and assistance schedule a service appointment at your Chesapeake Mazda Service Center. Related articles The 2014 Mazda3: Zoom Zoom

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.