Summer Car Care

DURAND, Mich., – Summer is finally here and we know that means travel plans for many families. With that in mind, we recommend consulting our Summer Car Care tips to get your vehicle ready for long drives and hot conditions. It’s easy to be more excited about vacation time than taking your vehicle into our service center, but it’s important to stay up-to-date on your vehicle maintenance this time of year. We’ve outlined some of the basic maintenance you should keep up on your car during the summer, including cooling and A/C systems, cosmetic damages, exterior lights, fuel system, and sun protection.We want to make sure you and your family arrive at your destination safely and comfortably. Read on to learn about some of the steps you can take to prepare your vehicle for the summer months.

Cooling and A/C Systems

The importance of your cooling and A/C systems working properly during the summer months cannot be overstated. Both of these systems are crucial during hot weather for the safety of your passengers and your engine. A car's cooling system keeps the engine from overheating and having internal damage, while your A/C system keeps everyone in your vehicle, including adults, children, and pets, cool and in no danger of getting heat stroke. Learn the warning signs that could tip you off to a dysfunctional cooling or A/C system, and may ultimately help you recognize a problem with your car. Don’t get stuck on the side of the road due to an unchecked cooling or A/C system.

Cosmetic Damage

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on and fix all of the cosmetic damages on your vehicle that occurred last winter and all of the inclement weather conditions. Learn about some basic cosmetic fixes and why they are important to the life of your car to get them fixed. Plus, some cosmetic damages can cause rust, which greatly decreases the value of your vehicle. So save yourself time and money in the long run by fixing cosmetic damages as soon as possible.

Exterior Lights

Long drives up north on Friday nights and the general increase in nighttime driving during the summer mean it's even more important that your exterior lights are in proper working order. Light maintenance often gets overlooked when it comes to routine vehicle care, but exterior lights are very important to your safety while driving. Learn about the different types of headlights and how you can change them yourself at home, as well as an easy test to make sure your exterior lights are working properly.

Fuel System

On this page, we explain what your fuel system does for your vehicle and about it's different components. You'll learn about some of the warning signs that mean your fuel system may be not working efficiently and why it’s important to maintain the fuel system in your vehicle. With all the driving you're likely to do this summer, you'll want your fuel system working as best it can so you can go farther between trips to the pump. If the fuel system isn’t working properly, you could also be causing expensive damage to your vehicle. If you notice the warning signs, don’t wait to get your fuel system serviced.

Sun Protection

On the Sun Protection page, we discuss a number of tips and tricks for protecting your vehicle from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Yes, they're not just harmful to your skin, they can also do damage to your vehicle. Learn about the types of damage that can be caused by the sun and what you can do to prevent them. You wouldn’t go out in the sun all day without sunscreen on your skin, so why would you want to leave your vehicle unprotected from the sun during the summer?

After you’ve read through all of our Summer Car Care pages, we hope you'll understand the importance of maintaining your vehicle during the hot summer months. We’d be more than happy to help you with your cooling and A/C system, cosmetic damages, exterior lights, fuel system, or sun protection to get your car in great working condition for all of the summer plans you have this season. Be sure to give us a call at (989) 288-2657 or make a service appointment online. If you have any other questions or concerns about your vehicle maintenance, you can check out our FAQ section on our service page.

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! We proudly serve Durand and surrounding communities including Owosso, Flint, Swartz Creek, and Genesse Charter Township. Learn more about Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand, or for any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website atwww.GraffChevyDurand.com!

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Chevrolet Lowers 4G LTE Pricing for Data Plans

DURAND, Mich., – If you’re planning to spend even a little bit of time in your Chevy vehicle this summer, you may want to consider setting up a new data plan as Chevrolet lowers 4G LTE pricing for data plans. As an increasing number of drivers use the 4G LTE connectivity capabilities their Chevy vehicle’s offer, Chevrolet is able to offer new pricing plans, lowered by up to 50 percent compared to old plans.

As you hit the road for all of your adventures and road trips this summer, stay connected in your vehicle. If you’re wondering how to keep the kids occupied in the back seat on that long drive up north, worry no more. The 4G LTE connectivity in your Chevy vehicle will allow you to stream shows and movies to your devices while driving. It also allows for onboard navigation so you’ll never get lost while exploring!

The connectivity capabilities, which are made available through AT&T and OnStar, are also beneficial to those who need access to a mobile office. Entrepreneurs and businesses owners, who travel in their day-to-day lives, make up a large amount of the people using their Chevy hot spots.

Chevrolet was the first auto retailer to offer 4G LTE connectivity to its customers across all vehicles, and is now proud to offer it at a more affordable price. Since it was introduced in June of 2014, there has been a substantial increase of data use.

“As more people embrace the technology, it brings down the cost of entry for all users. With these lower prices, we expect even more customers to use 4G LTE connectivity during this busy summer driving season,” said Laura Keck, OnStar Subscriber Marketing Strategy manager.

As Chevrolet lowers 4G LTE pricing for data plans, be sure to consider making use of your in-vehicle hotspot for your summer vacations and road trips. Always stay connected, wherever you go! If you are planning to travel this summer, be sure your vehicle is up to date on all of its maintenance. You can use our Summer Car Care pages at Graff Durand to help you stay up to date. Be sure to check your cooling and A/C system for those hot summer days and your fuel system to keep you running efficiently. Don’t forget about your exterior lights, cosmetic repairs, and sun protection, too!

Come see us at 9009 East Lansing Road in 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! For any questions contact us at (989) 288-2657 or visit our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com! We proudly serve Durand, as well as the surrounding communities of Owosso, Flint, Genesse Charter Township, Swartz Creek, and others.

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Why You Should Wash Your Car More Often

DURAND, Mich. –– Even though we've had a more mild winter this year, the roads are still saltier than a bavarian pretzel. All the salt on the roads can take a toll on your car besides just making it look dirty. Preventative and regular maintenance is the best medicine you can provide your car for its health, and one of those things is a simple car wash! Here's an explanation on why you should wash your car more often.

Washing your car will help prevent the corrosion road salt can cause during the winter. Rust is formed when moisture and oxygen mix, and guess what element can expedite the process? Salt. In fact, vehicles are most in danger of corrosion or rust when there's fluctuating moisture in the air, which is something the spring season is notorious for. This also puts vehicles parked in a garage more at risk because the warmth of the garage creates moisture from melting snow or ice. This is where salt can really do some damage.

If you do go out to get a wash, pick a warmer day above 30 degrees fahrenheit. Cold temperatures can cause your door handles and windows to freeze after a car wash, so these warmer temps we'll be experiencing this weekend will prevent that from happening. The warm weather will also allow your car to completely dry before hitting the road so salt is less likely to stick - try to pick a carwash that does drying by hand or rag at the end for optimum drying.

Since we've had a temperature-fluctuating winter, it might be worth considering adding a car wash to your weekly or bi-weekly to do list. Although rust and corrosion happen over time, car washes can help prevent it from happening, especially because a car wash can get in those hard to reach spots. The always changing weather can be rough on our vehicles in Michigan and the midwest, which is why it's important to stay on schedule with seasonal vehicle maintenance, especially winter.

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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