Winter is here and where I live, in Finland, we have just had our first snow with many drivers navigating icy roads on plain summer tires. I was doing a 50 mile trip yesterday, mostly on small rural roads where the snow is not yet spoiled by salt and heavy traffic, and I thought to myself: It’s not really that dangerous or difficult to drive on slippery roads as long as you know what to do and when. You just have to adopt a different driving style and you’ll be as safe as on dry summer roads. The danger is when you apply a summer driving style to winter roads.

Rule #1: Slow Down

Don’t expect to reach the same speeds on a winter road as you do in the summer. Plan you trip to take longer and if you drive long hours in dark, limited visibility conditions up north plan some more stops to rest. (more…)

Winter is approaching and here in North Texas we see our share of cold weather. Nothing like many of our northern states but nonetheless, cold. The two greatest enemies of transmissions are the extreme cold and extreme heat, both of which we see. When the cold weather arrives it affects the transmission seals by contracting and creating internal and external leaks. While external leaks are visible internal leaks are not and will cause pressure loss that can cause shifting problems and/or internal damage.

It is vital that you keep an eye for external leaks, but you’ll need to bring your vehicle to 2 J’s automotive to get it thoroughly checked inside and out. The sooner you catch a problem the cheaper it will be to fix it. The longer a leak goes without being fixed the more damage it can cause to your transmission and ultimately will end up costing you more money to repair the problem.

The best way to prevent leaks is to change your transmission fluid at the manufactures recommended time frame. This usually falls between 30,000-40,000 mile range. This is also a great way to check the pan for any metal that might be an indication of transmission failure. At 2J’s Automotive we usually recommended a simple and cost efficient pan drop, fluid, filter, and gasket change over the more costly transmission flush. (more…)

Tires are a big purchase, and one of the least researched items that people buy. Perhaps it’s due to a plethora of confusing industry speak or perhaps the industry has done little to convince consumers of the advancements that have been made over the years, but typical consumers choose based on the recommendations of the local tire shop or price alone.

If you’re reading this, you are among the few who have an interest in selecting the right winter tires for your vehicle. Surprisingly, there is little cost difference between the cheapest tire a shop can offer you and a high-quality tire ordered online. The only difference is a little know-how. (more…)

Here are 2 cars you may consider and a run down of some of their features;

Volvo S80

The Volvo S80 is a great car to choose and has quite an array of cold weather features that come as standard. These include traction control, front and rear fog lights and rain sensing windshield wipers (which need no manual adjustment). Rear window defrosters with a timer are very useful for when the temperature plummets and you need to clear condensation or ice from your windows.

As well as the standard features there are also optional extras you can choose when you purchase the Volvo S80. These extras include heated front and rear seats which can come in very handy if you are stuck in traffic on the way home from work when it is minus four degrees outside. However you should consider the extras carefully as these add to the overall cost of the car. (more…)

Winter driving can be challenging enough without having someone tell you to drive in reverse, but that’s exactly what I’m going to recommend for rare situations when driving forwards with front wheel drive just doesn’t cut it.

Admittedly, the idea of driving backwards is a bit odd, but in special circumstances it works better with a front wheel drive vehicle than going forward. The special circumstances are deep snow and going uphill.

For those of us who live with a steep and long driveway, it can be challenging to make it uphill in deep snow, even with front wheel drive. Going backwards with a front wheel drive vehicle can help overcome the difficulty. Here’s why:

* Your drive wheels are lower, so gravity shifts more weight on them for better traction.
* You have to drive more slowly to maintain control of direction, and that tends to promote traction instead of wheel spinning.
* The front wheels of the car are now on compacted snow (thanks to the rear wheels) instead of loose snow, so that provides added traction. (more…)

Here are 2 cars you may consider and a run down of some of their features;

Volvo S80

The Volvo S80 is a great car to choose and has quite an array of cold weather features that come as standard. These include traction control, front and rear fog lights and rain sensing windshield wipers (which need no manual adjustment). Rear window defrosters with a timer are very useful for when the temperature plummets and you need to clear condensation or ice from your windows.

As well as the standard features there are also optional extras you can choose when you purchase the Volvo S80. These extras include heated front and rear seats which can come in very handy if you are stuck in traffic on the way home from work when it is minus four degrees outside. However you should consider the extras carefully as these add to the overall cost of the car. (more…)

Whenever driving a long distance especially on a motorway you need to be fully alert and prepared to deal with anything out of the ordinary such as long queues or adverse weather conditions. These are just two of the factors which will affect your driving and if you aren’t paying attention then you could have an accident.

Driving long distance can put considerable strain on your car. It’s important to not only have breakdown cover but also to carry a small kit of ‘emergency supplies’ on board. This should contain a few things to keep you warm and nourished if stranded whilst waiting for assistance.

A blanket and warm clothing such as a coat are vital. If the weather is particularly cold, you shouldn’t rely on your car’s heaters as your battery may run flat. Small items of high energy food are also recommended as well as drinks to keep you hydrated.

Even though there are emergency phones dotted along the motorways you may be a few miles away from the nearest one so having a fully charged mobile phone is another good idea. Make sure you have any important numbers such as your breakdown cover provider stored in your phone so you can easily dial them (just in case you don’t have the relevant documents stored in your car). (more…)

Like most riders you are probably ready for the snow to melt so you can get out and hit the trails this spring, but is your machine ready?

There are 5 areas that I will discuss in a 4 part series that will help riders get their machines ready for spring, (1) Fluid Levels (2) Battery Condition (3) Tire Condition (4) Carburetor Condition (5) Safety Check (more…)

If your ATV sat outside uncovered all winter, your tires sustained more wear and tear than they would have if they had been stored inside or if they had been covered. After sitting all winter your tires are probably low, fill them up and thoroughly review their condition. Make sure that you fill them to the PSI recommended by the manufacturer. We have seen first hand how an over-inflated tire led to a blow out that caused a machine to roll at high speeds on a gravel road, and how under-inflated tires led to a 2 inch gash in the sidewall when the wheel hit a rock 17 miles from the truck.

You should check for:

a. Tread wear – make sure that you have enough tread left to maintain traction and control of your ATV on the terrain you plan to ride. (more…)

In the first article of the series we discussed how to change your oil, in the second we talked about tire evaluation and repair. This article is going to focus on (1) battery evaluation; and (2) maintenance and air filter evaluation/cleaning.

1. The best way to prevent battery power loss during extended periods of non use is to hook your battery up to a trickle charger. If you choose this option, make sure that you follow the manufacturers guide lines and instructions very closely. I have heard of instances where the improper use of trickle chargers has caused fires which resulted in significant property damage. (more…)