Tip Tuesday: Wiper Blades

Living in New Jersey you know the weather can be unpredictable at times. One day it is warm and 70 degrees then the next day it drops down to 45 degrees with constant rain. Making sure your wiper blades are in tip top shape is always a benefit because you never know when you will need them.

With all the rainy weather we have been having these past few weeks it’s a good idea to check them. Wiper blades should be replaced every 15,000 miles or about every year. They are very important when driving in any precipitation because they help you see clearer which allows you to drive safer.

Did you know that the best way to test your wipers’ functionality is when they are wet? Using your wiper blades on a dry windshield causes them to wear quicker. There is a possibility that you could scratch your windshield too from gritty dirt trapped under the blade. Worn blades can also cause scratches. If you think you need your wipers replaced, please stop by! We carry top rated brands like Bosch and Trico which come in various sizes and fit most standard vehicles.

Small Business Week: Our Story

This week we recognize small businesses all around the nation. The President of the United States, over 50 years ago, brought this to our attention so we can honor those who work for and own small businesses. During this week, we wanted to celebrate our shop's history and talk about how we came to be.

Becoming a business owner was always a thought in my dad’s mind; especially one that had to deal with cars, as he is an automotive enthusiast. And on March 1, 1987, that thought became a reality.

The company started out as being called Jerry Noonan’s Half Acre Mobile and was at a different location than where it is today. It consisted of a Mobile gas station with two bays and an office. His first employees were family members that did the bookkeeping, office work and gas pumping. He did all the repairs.

As the business grew, he hired other mechanics and people to work at the pumps. At one point my dad realized that his business was out growing the location so he needed to start looking for a bigger facility and came across the property of where we are today.

During the process of changing locations there was also a name change for the company. The “Half Acre Mobile” part of the name became “Auto Center” as the gas station wording was no longer relevant. And by 1996 the business became incorporated.

The new location housed one building that consisted of two lifts and an office. It really wasn’t much bigger than where he was previously but because he owned the property this time, my dad knew he could make changes.

He decided to add a building that would hold enough bays to meet the needs of the customers and also provide a section to do auto body. This meant hiring more technicians and administrative people.

So here we are today in 2019 a 14 bay shop consisting of auto body and mechanical repair. We have 5 people up front in the offices, including myself and my dad, 4 people in the mechanical side, and 5 people in the auto body side, including my brother. My mom does the bookkeeping and administrative work usually at home, but she is still a part of this family business.

We all work there now and helped bring my dad’s dream into a reality. In a short lesson, do not give up on your dreams. They may be hard to achieve but if you put your mind to it, anything can be accomplished. This year we celebrate 32 years of business and we would not be where we are today without my dad’s hard work,our employees, and our customers.

*Picture: Drawing by my brother Michael, 29 years ago, at age 5.

Steps to Make Your Car More Environmentally Friendly on Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day everyone! Today is a very special day to spread awareness on what we can do to help the environment. More specifically, what you can do with your car to make it more efficient. There are a bunch of preventive steps that you can take to help your car and the environment, and some are easy enough to do yourself!

One of the most important things you can do is check your gas cap. Whenever you fill up your tank, make sure you or the attendant tightens your gas cap all the way. If it is lose, your gas can leak out in the form of vapor causing you to waste fuel and increase emissions. You can also make sure your gas cap is in good shape, if it is cracked or damaged in any way this also may cause the vapor to leak out. 

Another thing you can do yourself is to clean out your car. Yes this may sound silly, but this will help. If you are lugging around a lot of heavy unnecessary things, this will weigh down your car causing it to exert more energy and use more gas. Of course keep your spare tire, jumper cables, and all those kinds of things in your car at all times, but just try to stay more organized.

There are many simple maintenance services that can be done to help be more environmentally friendly as well. These can be done in a service appointment. You might not think that there is much you can do, but you can. These are services that should be done regularly and now you can find out how they help the environment too.

 The first one is routine tire checks. Make sure you always keep tabs on your tire pressure. Remember you might need more or less air in your tires as the temperature changes outside. If they are not as full as they should be, they should have air added to them. Having not enough air in your tires will make your engine work harder. 

The second one is to get your air filters replaced. These should be checked every time you come in for an oil change. A clogged air filter filled with dirt, bugs, leaves, etc. becomes restricted and this causes your engine to lose power, therefor it drags and is not as productive as it should be. Having a new air filter will improve your acceleration causing you to go farther with less power.  

And third is replacing your spark plugs as needed. During their lifetime, a spark plug creates a lot of heat which can cause electrical and chemical erosion. This wear and tear may cause your engine to misfire. A misfiring engine can use up unnecessary fuel and make your engine work harder to try to make up for that misfire. According to our technicians here at Jerry Noonan’s Auto Center, spark plugs should be changed every 6 years or 60,000 miles. 

There are many things that can be done to help the environment and it all starts you. You can do your part by making routine service appointments and having your car checked regularly to make sure it is performing the best for you and our Earth. 

Getting Your Vehicle Ready for the Warm Weather Ahead

Spring is here, and that means soon the warm weather will be too! 

With warm weather just around the corner, make sure your vehicle is ready by checking these following items:

• Air conditioning temperature and air conditioning components
• Electrical system including the battery, alternator, and starter
• Cooling system including the antifreeze condition and all belts and hoses
• Tire condition
• Wiper blades and washer operation
• All fluids
• All lights

By checking these items and making sure everything is working properly, your vehicle should be all set for Spring!  Jerry Noonan's Auto Center offers our customers a Spring Check that will inspect all of these items and ensure your vehicle is in great shape for $29.95.  If you would like to schedule an appointment for a Spring Check, give us a call today!

How the Cold Weather Can Affect Your Car

With our region seeing below freezing temperatures, those temperatures can affect your car.  So what do you have to be aware of when it is this cold?

1. Your battery can die because of the cold weather.  The extremely cold temperatures actually pulls the voltage from a battery, making it harder to start your car.  Car batteries usually last an average of three years, so the best thing to do is have your battery tested to ensure that it is strong enough to withstand the frigid weather.

2. The fluids in your car can start to thicken, and not allow your car to run properly.  We suggest checking all your fluids before the temperatures drop to ensure that you have the correct amount and the fluid is clean.  Transmission fluid is an important one, since this fluid needs to be able to move quickly, and your car won't function if it is flowing at a slow pace.

3. Tire pressure can typically lose one pound per square inch (psi) for every 10 degree temperature drop.  Check your tire pressure to ensure that your tires are properly inflated.  Under-inflated tires do not perform well and can cause damage to the tire itself.

4. Wipers and windshield washer fluid can fail.  Wipers can easily rip because of the frigid temperatures and clearing off a windshield of snow, ice, or slush.  Clean off your windshield first before using your windshield wipers.  Windshield washer fluid can freeze in extremely low temperatures, so use caution when using the fluid.

Here at Jerry Noonan's Auto Center, we understand that the cold temperatures can be a burden to you and your car.  For that reason, we provide a Winter Weather Check that goes over all the components listed above as well as the heating system, all belts, and overall condition of the vehicle.  Call us today to schedule your appointment!

Preventive Maintenance - Brake Fluid Service

Brake fluid is one of the main components that keeps your brakes working and stopping on time.  When you push on the brake pedal, the master cylinder pressurizes the brake fluid, making sure the car stops.  

When your vehicle doesn't have the correct amount of clean brake fluid, it would lessen or possibly eliminate your braking power.  Over time, brake fluid attracts moisture, and because of this becomes corrosive.  This corrosive fluid can eat at the braking system, causing leaks in the system.  Some potential signs of a leak are reduced stopping power, hard pedal or a spongy pedal.  

Since keeping your brake fluid free of corrosive material and of contaminants is vital, we recommend performing a brake fluid exchange every 30,000 miles or two years, whichever comes first.  This will help keep your vehicle's braking system safe and fully operable.

Making sure you have the correct amount of fluid is just as important to keep the system properly pressurized.  At Jerry Noonan's Auto Center, every vehicle that comes in receives a complimentary safety inspection, or as we like to call it, a courtesy check.  Our technicians always inspect the brake fluid condition and level during the courtesy check.  

Not sure if you need to have your brake fluid or brakes serviced?  Give us a call, and we will be able to help you out with any of your brake system questions.

Preventive Maintenance - Oil Changes

It is important to never skip out on an oil change!

The oil in your vehicle keeps your engine running smoothly.  Having routine oil changes is very important to the longevity and life of your engine.  

Did you know that over time, oil can turn into sludge?  This sludge can clog up oil passages and restrict your engine from getting oil, which can prematurely wear out internal components of your engine.  The detergents and additives in the oil (which help clean your engine) break down over time as well.  

While the manufacturers all have different recommendations based on mileage, here at Jerry Noonan's Auto Center we recommend 3000 miles/3 months for conventional oil, and 5000 miles/6 months for synthetic oil.  At these intervals, we have seen the best results for keeping engine oil clean and efficient.  

Even if you don't drive too much, or only take short trips that don't really add on any mileage, it is just as important to get an oil change on time.  The more the oil sits in a vehicle, especially when it isn't constantly being used, the faster is can break down and become sludge.  

Oil is like the lifeline of your vehicle.  So it is very important to always keep on a schedule for your oil changes.