Fall Chevrolet Service Checklist: Getting Ready for Winter

When you love driving as much as we do, it’s easy to focus on the fun of hitting the gas and feeling dominant acceleration. For this National Brake Safety Awareness Month, though, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at your stopping power. If you’ve noticed these signs of a braking system breakdown, don’t put off looking for Chevrolet brake service in Freehold, NJ. Our team at Lester Glenn Chevrolet of Freehold is sharing a few signs to look out for. Sounds that Stand Out Brake pads are designed with a built-in warning system that’s hard to ignore. When you’ve almost completely worn through the pad, it’ll start producing a high-pitched screeching sound that will get your attention. If you ignore that, you’ll start to hear the rotors themselves grinding, which means you need service immediately. Squishy Brake Pedal If you’ve started to notice that you have to push harder and harder on the brake pedal to get the same response, have your brake system checked out. You may have a fluid leak, air bubbles, or some other issue that’s keeping brake fluid from transferring enough pressure to the pads. A car pulling to one side is also often a sign of a brake issue; it may also be due to tire wear or another system, but no matter what, it needs to be addressed. Dashboard Alerts Many drivers find it easy to ignore a warning light on the dashboard until they’re stuck at the side of the road, waiting for a tow truck. Brake alerts vary by vehicle, so check your owner’s manual if you see anything light up on your dash. If it’s yellow, you should make an appointment sooner rather than later. If a red brake warning light turns on, you should get service immediately, as it could indicate a serious issue with your braking system. Get Chevrolet Brake Service in Freehold, NJ Take this National Brake Safety Awareness Month as your sign to get a full brake check-up. Make an appointment with our Chevrolet service center in Freehold, NJ, and have our team make sure you’re ready for the road. With Chevy service financing, there’s no reason to put off that maintenance stop, so call today!

When they have extra cargo they need to bring, many drivers think, “ What happens if you overload a trailer?” While it may seem like exceeding the towing limit is a safe enough way to cut corners, it can make towing harder and more dangerous. Instead of pushing limits, talk to our team at Lester Glenn Chevrolet of Freehold to find out how you can increase your towing power or you’ll run into these issues. Strain on the Engine The Greater Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of your Chevy truck or SUV is based on the maximum combined weight of the trailer, vehicle, and cargo based on the vehicle’s overall engineering and power. Even if it has the raw power to get an overloaded trailer moving, if you’re towing in start-and-stop traffic on the Garden State Parkway, it has to spend extra energy accelerating after slowing down. You’ll experience more problems and possibly even breakdowns. Poor Steering As the trailer gets heavier, more weight gets carried by the rear bumper of your car. Like a lever, any pressure weighing down the rear bumper causes the front to lift, giving your front wheels less contact with the road. This will cause any car to have trouble steering safely, but it’s especially dangerous if you’re towing using front-wheel drive. Swaying Trailers The GCWR isn’t only set by how much raw power your SUV has; it’s also set to ensure the center of balance sits between the vehicle and the trailer. With a heavier trailer, the center of balance moves to the rear, and as a result the trailer is much more likely to sway into oncoming traffic or other obstacles. Modern Chevrolet vehicles feature StabiliTrak® to automatically stabilize trailers, but they’re only designed for the recommended range and may not work as intended with an overloaded trailer. Learn More about Chevrolet Towing in Freehold, NJ With a properly loaded trailer and a Chevrolet vehicle, there’s nothing you can’t tow. Find out more about our powerful vehicles at our Chevrolet dealership in Freehold, NJ. Learn more about advanced towing features and take a test drive today!

Getting a flat tire can cause inconvenience during any trip, but knowing how to resolve it can help you get back on the road safely. Changing a Chevy flat tire is an essential skill that both new and experienced drivers will want to have in their pocket. Lester Glenn Chevrolet of Freehold is here to walk you through this process with this step-by-step guide. Park Your Vehicle If you notice a flat tire, pull over to a safe area away from nearby traffic. Choose a flat surface to prevent your vehicle from rolling away. Once your vehicle is in place, engage the parking brake and turn on your hazard lights. Gather Your Tools After parking your vehicle, you’ll need to gather your tools for the tire change. These include the spare tire, lug wrench, and jack. You can typically find them in the trunk or under your floor mat. Loosen the Lug Nuts and Lift Your Vehicle Before lifting your vehicle, loosen the lug nuts by turning them counterclockwise with your lug wrench. This helps prevent the wheel from spinning when you lift it. Once they’re loosened, place your jack into your vehicle’s designated jacking point and lift it up until its flat tire is off the ground. You’ll find the jacking point within your owner’s manual. Remove the Flat Tire and Install the Spare Tire After removing the loosened lug nuts, carefully pull the flat tire off its wheel. Align the spare tire with the wheel studs and push it into place. Afterward, partially screw the lug nuts back onto the studs by hand. Once you lower the vehicle, use your lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts. Have a Chevy Flat Tire? Schedule Service in Freehold, NJ Learning how to change a Chevy flat tire helps you prepare for the unexpected while driving. Our technicians can also help you install a new tire. Visit our Chevrolet dealership in Freehold, NJ, to schedule an appointment.