5 Fall Car Care Tips for Michigan Drivers

DURAND, Mich. – Ah, Michigan: the state that receives all of nature’s deepest compassion and intensity throughout the highs and lows of all four seasons. Despite our love for spring and summer, and our complicated feelings towards winter (it’s a love-hate thing for all Michiganders), our favorite season at Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand has to be fall. In Mid-Michigan, you get all of the colors, smells, and activities that make autumn the highlight of the year (second behind Christmas). But this crisp, leafy season also constitutes a time of the year when you need to get your vehicle in for a routine maintenance checkup. Check out these 5 fall car care tips for Michigan drivers to ensure you make it through the next three seasons without any major vehicle complications.

Inspect your car battery periodically.

Batteries typically last for three years before corrosion gets the best of them, but on occasion batteries can tank before they reach their life expectancy. With fall, Michigan temperatures can quickly plummet and if your battery isn’t prepared for the cold then you might as well call your boss and tell them you’re not making it to work that day. Come into our Certified Service Center for a battery test and go enjoy a scenic fall drive.

Bring your car in for a cooling system inspection.

There’s nothing more annoying (or more Michigan) than being late for work and realizing your windshield and windows are covered in a glittery layer of frost. You start your car and wait for the defrosters to do the legwork, but nothing happens. You soon realize your heat is defunct and you’re also another ten minutes late to work. Before things cool down this fall, bring your car to our ASE Certified technicians for a cooling system inspection.

Replace your tires or have them rotated.

After a harsh winter, an erratic spring, and a hot summer in Michigan, it’s safe to say your tires take a beating by the time fall arrives. You should have your tires rotated periodically, as well as check their tread to see if they need to be replaced. Our technicians can thoroughly inspect your tires and tell you how much life they have left in them. Plus, if you purchase a new set of tires at Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand you could get back up to $50 or $100 with our tire special.

Have your brakes inspected.

You should have your brakes inspected every 10,000 miles, which is generally the distance your vehicle travels over the course of three or four seasons, making fall the perfect season to check them. If you hear grinding or squeaking noises, or notice any other abnormalities that seem to be due to your brakes, schedule an appointment to bring your vehicle to our service experts.

Make sure your fluids are at the right levels.

Fluids are one of the easiest things to neglect in a vehicle, but they’re vital in determining your vehicle’s lifespan and proper functioning. You should have your oil changed every 3,000–5,000 miles, but you also want to make sure your coolant, transmission, and brake fluids are at the right levels and that there aren’t any line leaks. Our Quick Oil and Tire Center technicians can inspect all of your fluids and make sure their levels are where they should be.

Follow these 5 fall car care tips for Michigan drivers and stop by our dealership near Flushing where our auto service and car repair technicians are dedicated to helping you extend the life of your vehicle purchase. Fall is also a time where driving can get a little dangerous due to high amounts of deer activity. If you find yourself with a damaged vehicle after a car-deer collision, enter our Busted Bumper Buck Pole contest to have your vehicle fixed and potentially win $1,000 if it's the most damaged from a deer collision.

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com!

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Chevrolet Teams Up With AutoShare to Ease Transportation Costs for Students

© General Motors

DURAND, Mich. – Could Chevrolet be dipping its toe into car sharing, as some of its competitors are? Potentially, but for now Chevrolet is teaming up with AutoShare to ease transportation costs for students at some of the most prestigious post-secondary institutions in the Greater Toronto Area.

Chevy will give AutoShare 16 vehicles to add to its fleet at Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, and York University. Available Chevy models for the AutoShare fleet will include the 2015 Chevrolet Trax, Sonic, and Cruze, all fitting vehicles for dense Toronto’s narrow streets.

“We are thrilled to be working with AutoShare to provide university students in Toronto with this unique opportunity to find new roads, both on and off campus,” said John Roth, GM Canada’s VP of sales, service, and marketing. “This partnership provides around-the-clock access to a range of fun-to-drive and stylish Chevrolets.”

The idea for Chevrolet to team up with AutoShare and ease transportation costs for students stems from the reality that the entire college experience comes with hefty costs – tuition, food, and rent, to name a few. Transportation is an additional cost that many students have to squeeze into an already compact budget.

Chevy will waive service registration fees for students, and AutoShare will only charge students $6 hourly driving rates on Chevy models. By saving students 35–40% on transportation, Chevy and AutoShare will help these young scholars worry less about finances and focus more on taking advantage of a quality education.

Is it safe to assume, if this experiment with AutoShare goes well, that we could see Chevy partner with American car sharing companies to provide fleets on American university campuses? Considering the abundance of universities and large cities that call the U.S. home, it might be a good move on Chevy's part.

If you’re a college student at the University of Michigan–Flint or Kettering University, we understand how difficult it can be to maintain your vehicle. But don’t forget the importance of getting a regular oil change and replacing your tires at the appropriate times and seasons. Stop by Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand and we’ll help you out!

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com!

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Further Developments in Warren After GM Invests $1 Billion in Tech Center

DURAND, Mich. – It wasn’t long ago that General Motors announced it would invest $1 billion in its Warren Technical Center, and now Warren is experiencing the benefits.

Further developments will erupt in Warren in light of GM’s $1 billion investment in the tech center, a 326-acre facility with renovations expected to be complete by 2018. Warren, a city of 135,000, will feel the positive effects of GM’s investment as a number of new amenities sprout up in close proximity to the facility, including:

• 200 premium lofts neighboring city hall
• Prestige Cadillac dealership
• Five-star hotel across the street from the tech center
• Specialty grocery store like Whole Foods Inc. or Trader Joe’s
• Menards home improvement store

GM also plans to invest $35 million in the Detroit based advertising agency Campbell Ewalds 10-story former headquarters located nearby the tech center. The renovation will bring another 800 jobs to Warren.

In talks of further developments in Warren after GM’s $1 billion investment in its tech center, city officials have stated they expect $300 million to be invested in the Downtown Development Authority district, which is stabilized by the tech center.

A vehicle engineering center, design center, and research and development operations make up the tech center, which employs 15,000 to 20,000 workers. GM’s $1 billion investment is expected to produce an additional 2,600 jobs.

With GM’s investment spurring a number of developments, employees will have more living options and new amenities nearby. The developments will also serve Warren residents who don’t work at the tech center but are looking for a walkable downtown area to experience.

GM is in the midst of investing in local communities across Michigan, and these places are seeing positive effects through job creation. This is exactly what Michigan needs, so it make us proud to be a Chevrolet dealer with plenty of used Chevys near Flushing, MI.

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand is revolutionizing the car buying experience. We provide all the transparency and customer service you need, while simultaneously making your purchase experience fun! Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com!

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