Was There Ice On Your Windshield This Morning?

If you park your car outside overnight during the winter chances are there may be ice on your windshield. Before you call it a night during frosty seasons, grab some cooking spray from your kitchen. A light spray on your windshield and wipers can make a huge difference. This creates a barrier that prevents ice from bonding strongly with the glass, Doing this will help to have less scraping to do in the morning. Just make sure to wipe away any excess spray to keep your windshield clear and streak-free. You can use a indshield cover or a sheet, towel, or tarp can be placed over your windshield to prevent ice buildup. Your wiper blades can be used to hold the cover in place. Got an onion? The idea of using a vegetable may sound strange, but rubbing half an onion over your car windows and windshield at night will stop frost from forming in the morning. Cut the onion lengthwise and apply it the night before. The oil from the onion line the glass with a coating that works wonders. Remember.... Before you hit the road .... NEVER clear a tiny space and then drive off with only a small area cleared. Spending a few minutes will save you a lot of time and keep you, and others, a little safer on the roads.

Don't Be A Drowsy Driver

Daylight Saving Time ended last week. With the change comes increased risks on roads as a result of limited visibility and drowsy driving. Drivers need to be aware of increased drowsiness resulting from disturbed sleep patterns and reduced visibility from daylight changes. Drowsy driving is more likely to cause a crash. When you drive without adequate sleep, your motor skills are impaired. Drivers who’ve only slept 3 to 5 hours in the last 24 hours are unfit to drive. Most people understand it’s risky, but don’t think about the consequences. Drowsy driving is likely to cause a crash. Like drunk, drugged, and distracted driving, drowsy driving is a real public health issue, causing thousands of car crashes each year. Carlotta encourages everyone to prioritize sleep and drive when they are alert and refreshed. Our goal is to help people get the sleep they need and reduce the number of drivers who choose to drive while sleep-deprived.

Ready to "Fall Back"

It's almost time to turn back your clocks, and prepare for darker afternoons Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3. The return of standard time happens in autumn and involves turning clocks back by an hour -- earning it the motto "fall back." Out of all the devices that you need to update, your car's clock is probably the most important. Some modern cars that include GPS systems will allow you to do this. They will be able to synchronise the car's clock with the global positioning satellite signal and so they will automatically change the time according to the zone you're in. Some cars come with a Summer Time option in their settings. Just think.... we will “spring forward” one hour on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Watch Out For Those Deer!

Deer are more active in the autumn months, especially with the approach of their breeding season. Drivers are urged to stay alert. Fall is peak season for deer-related accidents, and Pennsylvania drivers face some of the highest collisions risk in the nation. Daylight saving time ends November 2nd meaning that drivers will spend more time on the road during dawn and dusk, the peak hours for deer activity. Pennsylvania is already one of the states with the highest rates of vehicle collisions involving deer or other large animals. A recent report found that Pennsylvanians have a 1-in6 4 chance of such accidents, the highest in the country. Drivers can lower their chances of an accident by staying vigilant in areas marked with deer crossing signs. Remember that deer often travel in groups. Even if one deer crosses safely, another may follow. Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for vehicle/deer collisions. Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland. Deer seldom run alone. When you see one deer, others are very likely to be nearby. When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway. Give yourself more time to react by driving in the furthest lane from the shoulder, if possible.

Time To Switch Your Tires?

Now that temperatures are starting to consistently drop below 45°F over nite, it’s probably time to change over your tires from Summer to Winter. Many people use a rule of thumb of using winter or snow tires from Thanksgiving to Tax Day – basically, November to April. In NEPA... this comes a little earlier. You should definitely have winter tires installed before the winter weather hits. If you consistently are able to see your breath, it's time to mount winter tires. Winter tires are specifically built to work best in colder temperatures. They are made with rubber compounds that are specifically designed to stay more flexible in the cold temperatures. Winter tires should ideally be used in a full set of four tires. Having tires with differing levels of grip can drastically upset the way the car handles and can lead to a loss of control.

Are Those Leaves On Your Car?

When the weather starts to drop, so do leaves from trees. Those stunning leaves in beuatiful shades of orange, red, yellow, and brown are damaging your vehicle’s paint. Leaves contain acid-based materials, such as tree sap, that can damage your car's paint. The bottom layer of leaves is often wet, which can act like glue and stick to your car's paint.As leaves decompose, they release sap, tannic acids, and other natural compounds that can damage your car's paint To protect your car's paint from leaves, you can: Remove leaves quickly by hand to avoid scratching your car's paint. You can also use a leaf blower with light air pressure or a vacuum Remove tree sap by using rubbing alcohol on a cloth or a tree sap remover to remove tree sap. Wash your car After cleaning off your car, why not give it a rinse or take it through a car wash.

Is There A Rattle In Your Engine?

Engine rattling noise, (clicking sound in an engine) can happen for a number of reasone. Whether it's engine knocking when accelerating or some kind of spark knock or just a general engine noise, some are more serious than others. One thing that’s true is that it's never good to leave it alone. There are a bunch of reasons you might be hearing your car engine making noise. Engine Rattling When Accelerating may be Belt Tensioner Engine Rattling At Idle could be Spark Plug Knock or Collapsed Lifters Engine Noise When Cold could be Rod Knock Sound or Piston Slap Engine Rattling When It’s Hot could be Low Oil Pressure or a Heat Shield Hopefully this gave you a better idea of where to start your search and ultimately helped you find your rattling noise.