Here are a few tips on what to do before you call:
- Start by checking the service reminder sticker or your records to see what service you might be due for.
- Also check to see if you have any service or repairs that you have been putting off. Most independent repair facilities can help you by going through their records to double check what is due.
- If there is work to be done and your budget is limited, prioritize the work in this order: safety, reliability and then preventive. Remember that preparing your vehicle for a long trip is more than getting an oil change at a local quick lube place! Pick a full service auto repair shop that can evaluate your whole vehicle.
It’s going to get colder. Don’t recycle your air.
Thanksgiving is the time of the year when the weather starts to become cold and we start to use our vehicle’s heating system. It’s important to make sure your car’s recycle button (See picture) in the off position. This ensures that the air in your car is not recirculating. The recycling button usually has an arrow that looks like it’s going in a circle? You don’t want to use Recirculated Air in the winter because it traps humidity inside your car, resulting in super foggy windows! So when it’s cold outside, make sure that Recirculation is NOT selected unless you want to join everyone that is driving around with foggy windows.
Keeping It “Fresh”
Quite often, our customers will tell us that they don’t want “all that cold air coming in from the outside” during the cold weather. This “Fresh Air” mode setting (a button with an arrow going from outside to inside the car on most vehicles), doesn’t really bring cold air into the car. Instead, Fresh Air mode forces the outside air through your heater core so it’s nice and toasty before it reaches you, and your windows will de-fog a lot quicker and stay that way while you drive. Fresh Air mode is a good thing to have in the Winter!
Many newer vehicles have sensors to monitor and control the moisture, so you won’t have to worry.
Finally, if you use the air recirculating mode all the time it can lead to the heater core becoming blocked with mold which ends up making the inside of the car smell badly. (We wrote a blog recently about this) At BA Auto Care, we’re ready to prepare your vehicle for the road – any make and model – to keep you traveling safe during this season of good cheer. Don’t forget to make an appointment online or by phone (410-381-2700). We’ll get your car in and out of the shop in a jiffy and get you road ready for the holidays.
Here are some of the services we offer:
- Scheduled Maintenance & Oil Change Services
- Diagnostics & Repairs
- Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Service
- Maryland Vehicle Safety inspections
- Tire and Wheel Sales and Service
- Emissions Repairs
- Pre- Purchase Car Inspections
BA Auto Care
9577 Berger Road, Columbia MD 21046
Open Monday – Friday, 7:30 am to 6 pm
410-381-2700 | baautocare.com
