Tires – Be sure to check both the tire pressure and tread on all 5 of your tires (don’t forget about the spare). If you are unsure what your tire pressure should be, look for the manufacturer sticker when you open the passenger side door. To check your tread life, take a penny and place it in between the tread with Lincoln’s head pointed down. If you can see the top of the former President’s head, it is recommended that you replace your tires before embarking on your trip. Many regions have patterns of afternoon rain storms that could be dangerous on tires without adequate tread. Also, be sure to check the valve stem for cracks.

Fluids – Heat will wreak havoc on an engine. Make sure your vehicle has plenty of vital fluids to keep your engine cool and vacation on track.

Be sure to change your oil before hitting the road and consider using thicker weight oil than you might normally use as the summer heat will thin the oil. Check and replace or refill each of the fluids under your vehicles hood, including: transmission fluid, differential fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid and coolant.

Motor Engine Components

Battery and cables – Inspect the terminals on your battery. If they are corroded, clean the terminals with a mixture of baking soda and water. Also be on the lookout for any cracks or dirt. Hot weather drains the life from your battery quickly. Be sure to have it tested before setting out on your road trip to ensure your battery will make the trip with you and your family.

Radiator and hoses – Overheating is the leading cause of mechanical breakdowns on our nation’s highways. Check fluid levels in your radiator and for any cracks in the hoses connecting your radiator.

Other Components

Air Conditioning – The summer months bring the hottest temperatures in even the mildest climates. Checking to make sure your air conditioning is functioning properly before leaving will keep everyone smiling on your vacation. Turn the air conditioning on and cover a vent with your hand to check the fan speed and temperature of the air that is being produced. Be sure to listen for any unusual noises while it is running and then shut it off and listen for any noises.

Lights – Checking all interior and exterior lights on your vehicle will help keep you and your family safe on your journey. Have someone help you to check your headlights, high beams, turn signals, hazard lights, license plate light, brake lights, and interior lights.

Indicator lights – It’s never a good idea to drive with a check engine or other malfunctioning indicator light illuminated on your dash, especially on a long trip. Engine problems should be diagnosed and fixed prior to departure to keep your vehicle running smoothly throughout your trip.

Safety Kit – You never know what the road might bring, so be sure to prepare for common breakdowns with a small safety kit. Here is a list of items to include: basic tools (screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers), a flashlight with fresh batteries, first aid kit, jumper cables, tire iron, jack, cell phone charger and drinking water in case you have to wait in hot temperatures for an extended period of time.

At Sarasota Lamborghini we want to make sure you are safe on the road this summer. Feel free to bring your vehicle to Sarasota Lamborghini for a road trip inspection before you embark on your journey if you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with any of the safety checks described here.

How to Double-Check For an Alignment

To see if you need a wheel alignment, first check each tire and look for uneven wear patterns. You can do this by taking a coin to each tire and inserting it in the tread at the outside, center, and inside of the tire.

If the tread is deeper on the edges than in the center, the tire is over inflated.

If the tread is deeper in the center than the edges, the tire is under inflated.

If the tread is deeper on one side than the other, have your wheel alignment checked soon.

If you run your hand back and forth across the tread (be careful not to cut yourself on any debris) and the tread is smooth in one direction, but jagged in the other you have what is called a “saw-tooth” wear pattern caused by a toe-in problem. If your tires have a “saw-tooth” wear pattern, have the alignment checked as soon as possible as this can cause unsafe tire wear.

Aligning Your Tires

There are two types of wheel alignments, a two-wheel alignment and a four-wheel alignment. The four-wheel alignment is the best type of alignment to get for a vehicle. Having all four wheels aligned increases safety when driving down the road.

Having proper wheel alignment insures that your vehicle handles properly and returns the wheels on your vehicle to their correct angle. When your wheels are properly aligned you will not have to fight with your steering wheel when driving to make the car drive straight, or make the steering wheel stop vibrating. Maintaining proper wheel alignment can also increase gas mileage and decrease tire wear.

By making small adjustments and keeping up with regular maintenance items, like keeping your wheels aligned, can help you avoid a major breakdown in the future, and prolong the life of your vehicle.

If it has been longer than a year since your last alignment, and you are experiencing symptoms described here, or are unsure if you need an alignment, bring your vehicle into the Lamborghini Sarasota Service Department. One of our highly trained Service Technicians can take a look at your vehicle, realign your vehicle’s wheels, and get you back on the road safely.

The first and most common culprit could be worn out rotors. Front brake rotors can warp when in heavy use. This is caused by extreme heat created by friction and pressure applied to the front brake pads and rotors. A heavy braking condition can be caused by driving down a long grade or extreme driving conditions such as racing. When a brake rotor becomes warped it will cause the steering wheel to shake when the brakes are applied.

If the brake rotors are warped it is recommended to replace them. It is possible, but not recommended to re-machine to the rotor (the rotor will be straight but it will have less mass to dissipate heat therefore re-warping is eminent).

The second braking component to check is the lower ball joint. If the suspension lower ball joints are worn it will cause the spindle to wander causing the steering wheel to shake. Lower ball joints are a normal service item and need to be inspected every 40,000 to 60,000 miles.

The third components of your braking system that could cause a vibration in the steering wheel when you apply the brakes are the idler arm and tie rod ends. The idler arm, pitman arm and tie rod ends are normal service items and need to be inspected between 50,000 and 80,000 miles.

If you are experiencing vibrations in your steering wheel when you apply the brakes, be sure to visit the Sarasota Lamborghini Service Department for a comprehensive check-up of your steering and braking systems.

Source: [2 Car Pros]

One method most drivers use to determine when to change their brake pads is sound. If you hear a screeching or metal scraping sound when you brake you need to replace your brake pads immediately. By waiting until you hear this noise when braking can cause damage to your rotors as well as other braking components.

The best way to tell when you should replace your brake pads is to visually inspect your pads. This isn’t difficult to do. First make sure the vehicle is parked in a well lit area where you will be able to kneel beside your tires comfortably. You can view the pads by looking through the outside of the wheel rims, or you may need to remove the wheel to get a better look at the brake pads. Upon inspection, if the pad depth is less than 1/4 inch thick, you are over due to replace the brake pads. If your brake pads are less than 1/8 inch thick they need to be changed immediately for your safety.

No other piece of safety equipment on your vehicle is more important than your brakes. Be sure to inspect and replace your brake pads and braking components on a regular basis to keep your vehicle running safely. If you do not feel comfortable inspecting your brake pads yourself, you can always bring your vehicle into Lamborghini Sarasota for inspection.

Maintaining a regular schedule for rotating your tires helps to ensure even tire wear and helps your tires last longer. Rotating your tires involves changing their position on the vehicle from one wheel location to another. All tire manufacturers recommend rotating your tires regularly. In fact, failing to do so could void the manufacturer’s warranty. Rotate tires at the vehicle manufacturers’ recommended intervals or at 5,000 to 7,000 miles if not specified.

There are two different schools of thought on how often you should rotate your tires on front wheel drive vehicles. The front tires on these vehicles tend to wear quicker than those on the rear of the vehicle. By rotating the tires front to rear and side to side the wear patterns between the wheel locations spread the wear out more evenly, allowing you to extend the life of all four of your tires.

Others argue it makes more sense to replace the front tires on a front wheel vehicle as they wear out, but to leave the back tires alone. This plan is especially effective if you do a lot of driving or plan to keep the vehicle a long time. It is estimated that the back tires will last as long as two sets of front tires.

To find out what rotation pattern would be best for your vehicle and tires, consult one of our highly trained Service Advisors in the Lamborghini Sarasota Service Department.

Wiper blades are one of the most neglected components on vehicles today. Many blades are cracked, split, torn, brittle, worn or otherwise in obvious need of replacement. Others may look okay, but do lousy jobs of wiping when put to the test.

Most experts say wiper blades should be replaced every six to twelve months for optimum performance and driving visibility. That’s because wiper blades don’t last forever. Exposure to sunlight and ozone causes the rubber to age, even if the wipers aren’t used much.

As a set of blades age, they lose much of their flip-over flexibility and they’re less able to wipe cleanly. They may develop a permanent set (called “parked” rubber) or curvature which prevents full contact with the windshield. The sun bakes and hardens the rubber. Then when the wipers are needed, they streak and chatter because they’ve taken a set and won’t follow the curvature of the windshield.

Cold weather can affect blade life, too. Freezing temperatures makes rubber hard and brittle, which increases the tendency to crack and split. The holders can also become clogged with ice and snow, preventing the holder from distributing spring tension evenly over the blade. The blade “freezes up” and leaves streaks as it skips across the glass.

Heavy use can be hard on wiper blades, because dust, abrasives, road grime and even bug juice wear away the edge that the blades need to wipe cleanly.

How well the wiper blades perform also depends on the condition of the wiper arms and holders. A blade’s wiping ability is affected by the amount of spring tension on the wiper arm, the number of pressure points or claws that hold the blade, and the design of the blade itself. If the springs in the arms are weak (which is more apt to be a problem in older vehicles), the wipers may not be pressed against the glass firmly enough to wipe cleanly. Replacing the blades won’t make any difference because the problem is weak arms not bad blades.

Ultimately, any blade that’s chattering, streaking or doing a lousy job of wiping is a blade that’s overdue for replacement. The same goes for any blade that is cracked, torn, nicked or otherwise damaged.

If you have replaced your wiper blades and chattering or streaking persists, visit the Lamborghini Sarasota Service Department to have one of our technicians inspect your wiper blades and wiper arms to ensure your continued safety on the road.

Source: [Yahoo Autos]

Motor oil is the lifeblood of your engine. Just as your body operates best with a specific blood type, your engine operates in a similar way. Do you know what type of motor oil helps protect and optimize your engine’s output?

When you take your vehicle to a service department for an oil change, do you know which oil to request in your vehicle? With so many motor oil choices available, it can be confusing to know what type of oil will work the best in your vehicle’s engine. The easiest answer to this question is found in your owner’s manual. For most passenger car and light truck gasoline engines today, any oil that meets the American Petroleum Institutes “SH” rating. While that’s a pretty broad range of oils, here is a breakdown of the different types and functions of motor oil to help you choose which type is best for your engine.

Every motor oil is rated by viscosity, which indicates the oil’s resistance to flow. The higher the viscosity the slower it will flow. Most engine wear occurs immediately after a cold start, so it’s important to have oil that is thin enough to circulate easily.

5W-30 – most new engines today require a multi-viscosity oil for all-round driving. The lighter 5W-30 oils contain friction reducing additives that help improve fuel economy, and also allow the oil to quickly reach critical upper valvetrain components when a cold engine is first started.

10W-30, 10W-40 – used in older engines and engines that are driven at sustained highway speeds during hot weather.

20W-40 – used in high RPM, high-load applications primarily and are not recommended for cold weather driving.

Synthetic oils are also an option when choosing the right oil for your vehicle. Synthetic oil offers greater engine protection in high temperatures, increased durability and a better all-around performance than ordinary petroleum-based oils. These can cost up to three times as much as ordinary petroleum oils because they are manmade rather than refined. The premium priced synthetic oil is recommended for vehicles operated in extremely cold or hot climates, turbocharged or supercharged engines, performance or high output engines, vehicles used for towing and anyone who wants ultimate engine lubrication and protection. Synthetic oil improves the performance of your engine in virtually every aspect:

• Superior temperature resistance. Synthetics can safely handle higher operating temperatures without oxidizing (burning) or breaking down. The upper limit for most mineral based oils is about 250 to 300 degrees F. Synthetics can take up to 450 degrees F. or higher. This makes synthetics well-suited for turbo applications as well as high RPM and high output engine applications.
• Better low temperature performance. Synthetics flow freely at subzero temperatures, pouring easily at -40 or -50 degrees F. where ordinary oils turn to molasses. This makes for easier cold starts and provides faster upper valvetrain lubrication during the first critical moments when most engine wear occurs.
• Better engine performance. Synthetics tend to be more slippery than their petroleum-based counterparts, which improves fuel economy, cuts frictional horsepower losses and helps the engine run cooler. The difference isn’t great, but it can make a noticeable difference.
• Longer oil change intervals. Because synthetics resist oxidation and viscosity breakdown better than ordinary motor oils, some suppliers say oil change intervals can be safely extended — in some cases stretched to as much as 25,000 miles. Such claims are justified by the fact that synthetics don’t break down or sludge up as fast as ordinary mineral-based oils do in use.

Synthetics are available in the same grades as ordinary motor oils (5W-30, 5W-20 and 10W-30) as well as “extended” grades such as 15W-50 and even 5W-50.

Are you still unsure of what oil is best for your engine? The next time you take your vehicle for service at the Lamborghini Sarasota Service Department, be sure to talk with our knowledgeable service advisors to determine what type and viscosity of engine oil will help keep your engine running like new for years to come.

Source: [Yahoo.com]

Check your tire pressure. Often times an under inflated front tire can cause your vehicle to pull in one direction. Always check your tire pressure and be sure to keep your tires inflated according to manufacturer specifications. Keeping your tires properly inflated can also help improve your fuel efficiency.

Check your tire size. When buying tires always match tire sizes and tread patterns as close as possible. Different size, aspect ratio or even tread pattern can create enough of a difference to pull your vehicle to one side. If you are unable to purchase 4 tires at once, be sure to match your front two tires and back two tires to each other, to eliminate uneven wear and pulling.

Balance your car load. If you are carrying heavy items, like golf clubs or excessive weight, be sure to balance the weight evenly across your vehicle. If you can’t do anything about the weight, it is possible to have the wheels realigned to compensate for the pulling. This is not recommended, as when the weight is removed your vehicle will pull in the opposite direction.

Check your springs. This is actually easier than it may sound. Park your vehicle on a level plane and measure the distance between the ground and your fender openings on both the front and rear of your vehicle. If one side is more than an inch higher or lower than the other, there is a high chance that you need to replace a spring.

If you have checked these possible causes and everything looks fine, there are other causes that a mechanic can detect.

Misaligned wheels – when your vehicles wheels are not pointing directly straight ahead. There are many causes, the most common being rear wheel toe or axle misalignment, front wheel camber misalignment, too much cross camber or caster alignment. Sometimes the culprit can be caused from the steering wheel. Make sure your steering wheel has been aligned after your vehicles wheels have been aligned to ensure proper alignment.

Dragging break – caused by a frozen or sticking disc brake caliper. When the caliper freezes or sticks, it doesn’t allow the brake pad to kick back out from the motor, sometimes a weak or broken return spring in the drum brake doesn’t pull the shoe back from the drum. When this happens it causes the vehicle to pull one direction or another. Replacing the caliper will resolve the problem.

Excessive road crown – to allow for proper drainage, roads are built sloped (crowned) so that rain and other fluids will drain to the side of the roadway. For those who spend a large amount of time driving on crowned roads, you can realign the wheels on your vehicle to compensate for the excessive crown.

If you are tired of fighting with your vehicle to stay in a straight line, the factory trained technicians at Lamborghini Sarasota can diagnose and correct any problems your vehicle may have to get you back on the road worry free.

When this light flickers on, it means the onboard computer system in your vehicle has self-diagnosed a problem. The causes for this alert varies from a momentary hiccup that has little or no noticeable effect on engine performance or driving safety, to a failure of a major electronic component. Unfortunately, the only way to tell what has triggered this alarm is to run a diagnostic scan on your vehicle to determine the culprit.

The onboard diagnostic system in your vehicle is very complex. To accurately access and diagnose this system special tools are used to troubleshoot your vehicle. At Lamborghini Sarasota, our highly trained staff will access your vehicle’s computer system and put your vehicle into a special diagnostic mode to display the “fault codes.” These are numeric codes that are generated and stored in your vehicle’s computer system when a problem is detected. By retrieving the fault codes, the service technicians at Lamborghini Sarasota can isolate the failed component and begin repairing or replacing it.

Intermittent problems are often more difficult, and may take a significant amount of time to diagnose. In these situations, it is critical to make note of the conditions that caused the light to turn on. Were you driving at a certain speed? Were you accelerating or slowing down, or were you shifting gears?

If your check engine light has illuminated recently, feel free to bring your vehicle to Lamborghini Sarasota for a complete diagnosis and inspection.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, passed last February, allows all new car buyers to deduct the sales tax and other fees charged from the purchase of their vehicle after February 17th and before January 1st. The tax deduction can be added to the standard deduction, making it available even if you itemize your return. Plus, there is no limit to the number of vehicles you can claim under this deduction, as long as you purchase each vehicle before this deduction expires. There are some restrictions to this special tax deduction, so be sure to consult with a tax professional if you have any questions.

If you’re considering buying a new car this year, don’t miss this opportunity to increase your tax refund. Combined with low interest rates, high factory incentives and record trade-in prices, now is the perfect time to trade up to a new vehicle.