Blog

What to do after a car accident Getting into a car accident can be a terrifying experience. Whether it’s a minor accident or a major one, it can be jarring and might be difficult to remember what you need to do. Check out this list of steps to take after a car accident to help navigate your way through it! more Read More: 5 steps to take when having engine issues Steps to take after a car accident Secure the scene: Try to leave your hazards on and pull over off the road as much as possible. If your lights aren’t working, we recommend having flares or a flashlight handy in your car. Never leave the scene of an accident. Call the police: It is almost always in your best interest to call the police after an accident, even if it was relatively minor. You may need a police report in order to file a claim with your insurance company. Be ready to relay exactly what happened to the best of your ability without speculating or guessing about any facts. Take photos and exchange information: Get evidence of the accident by taking photos of both vehicle damage and physical damage to your body if any. You should also exchange information with the other parties involved in the accident, including a phone number and insurance information. Report the accident with your insurance company: You should try to do this as soon as possible to start the process and learn what your benefits are as part of your coverage. Following these steps can help you navigate the time period immediately following the accident to protect yourself and your rights and start on the path to resolving the issues post-crash. Drivers in need of repairs to their vehicle can schedule a service appointment online or come to the Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac service department!

What do I do when my engine overheats? At some point or another, we've all dealt with annoying car issues. Some are even much more frustrating than others, like when dealing with engine issues. While these problems can be rare, it's smart to know how to handle the situation if it ever arises. So, what do I do when my engine overheats? more To make things simple, we wanted to give you a quick guide on what to do if your engine starts overheating. First, pull over to a safe spot on the road and shut off the vehicle. Since the engine and hood are still hot, wait a while until the car has cooled down before inspecting the problem. Check your owner's manual if you're unsure of where the coolant reservoir tank is, but first, check the coolant/antifreeze level in the radiator. However, make sure the radiator cap has cooled down before filling the radiator with coolant. Next, double check the radiator hoses to see if anything is broken, malfunctioning or disconnected. Try restarting the engine, and then keep a close eye on your car's temperature gauge. Read more: How to change a tire. We hope this helps you out, but in case you're still having a tough time, be sure to visit your local dealership for assistance. For example, we here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac have highly skilled technicians that can help get your vehicle looking and driving as good as new. Now that you know what to do when your engine overheats, you can learn more tips and tricks by following our blog.

How to change a flat tire Knowing how to change a flat tire is an important skill to have, but many people don’t think about it until they have a flat that needs changing. Read on to learn how to change a flat tire so that you know what to do if you ever get a flat on the road! more Read More: How can I camp in my car? Steps to change a flat tire The most important thing to do first is to make sure that your vehicle has all of the necessary tools to fix a flat. Most vehicles have these items already, but double-check to be sure! Items you will need include a jack, a lug wrench, a fully-inflated spare tire and your owner's manual. Other items that are handy to have include work gloves, a flashlight, a blanket (to kneel on), reflective triangles and/or a reflective vest (in case you get a flat at night). Then, follow these steps to change your tire! Pull over in a safe location and turn on your hazard lights Apply the parking brake Remove the hubcap and/or wheel cover Loosen the lug nuts but do not remove completely Place the jack under the vehicle and raise it Remove the lug nuts Remove the flat tire and mount the spare Tighten the lug nuts with your hand (not too tight!) Lower the vehicle so that the tire is on the ground but not with its full weight and tighten the lug nuts completely Lower the vehicle the rest of the way and replace the hubcap or wheel cover Schedule a Service Appointment Here! For all your automotive needs, come to Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac today!

Tips for camping in a car Getting all of the gear you need to go camping can get expensive. To save money, and just to be more mobile, you can camp in your car! There are a few ways you can make your experience better, check out these tips! more Read More: How much room is in the Buick Envision? How to camp in your car It's all about the location. Whether you want to park your car at an actual campsite, or just want to camp out along your road trip route, finding the right location to park your car is key. If you are parking at a campsite, keep in mind the cost of reserving the site and be courteous of your camping neighbors by not leaving your engine running for too long. If you are camping along your travel route, there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure you are parking legally somewhere (truck stops and Wal-mart parking lots are typically good options), and if you are parked on an incline, turn your wheels and pull the emergency brake to avoid rolling, and make sure you sleep with your head on a higher incline than your feet. It's also all about the vehicle. Camping in compact sedans and smaller cars is not an ideal situation. Trucks and SUVs, on the other hand, are usually spacious enough to make a comfortable sleeping spot. Most of the time, putting your head toward the front of the car will give you more elbow room, because most cargo areas have wheel wells that cut into the interior space. Bringing a variety of blankets and pillows or a small air mattress (test it out beforehand to make sure it fits!) will help you get comfortable too. Prepare for the trip like you would any other camping trip. Make sure you have the necessary amounts of food and water to last through your trip, a first aid kit, fire starting materials, bags for garbage, electronics chargers, flashlights, toiletries, clothes and more. Make sure you can get fresh air. To avoid windows fogging up, you should create ventilation in your car by cracking the windows. To help keep bugs out, you can bring some mesh along with you, cut and secure it to cover each window. View Our Inventory We hope these tips help you camp in your car safely. Let us know about your summer camping adventures in the comments section of this post! For all of your automotive needs, come to Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac today!

How to avoid motion sickness on a road trip Getting carsick is no fun. Especially if you are embarking on a lengthy road trip, feelings of motion sickness can totally derail your plans and make the trip miserable instead of exciting. Learn some tips for how to avoid getting carsick here! more View Our Inventory Tips to avoid getting carsick Car games to play on a road trip Sometimes, the best way to avoid feeling carsick is to be distracted! Check out these games to play in the car to keep yourself busy and avoid feeling sick! We hope you have a safe and fun summer!

How Traction Control works in your vehicle Most vehicles today have some sort of traction control system integrated into them. But you might not be sure what traction control does or how it works, which is why we are sharing this helpful video to explain more about the benefits of a traction control system! more View Our New Inventory For all of your automotive needs, visit the team here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac!

What is an Anti-lock Braking System? Nearly every new vehicle comes equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), but many people aren't sure exactly what it does or how it works. While nearly everyone understands that it is a safety feature to help keep you safe on the road, it can be more helpful to be able to recognize the signs when ABS is activated so that you know what is going on in your vehicle. Check out this video explaining how ABS works and how it helps you stay safe! more View Our Inventory If you have questions about your vehicle or are in need of service or repairs, come on into the service center at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac!

How-to: Test drive a used car When you are in the market for a new or used vehicle, it can be overwhelming trying to decide what kind of vehicle you want and how much you can afford. Once you have that narrowed down and have a possible vehicle picked out, it is important to take it for a test drive (or two) to make sure that it is in good shape. But what do you need to look and listen for to determine if the car is in good shape? Check out these tips on how to successfully test drive a used car. more Read More: How powerful is the 2017 Buick Enclave? Open the hood: Pop the hood to look for signs of maintenance to be sure that the vehicle has been cared for. Check the oil and transmission levels to makes sure the fluids have been maintained and lay down to look under the vehicle both when it is running and when it is off to make sure there are no fluid leaks. Check the tires: Make sure the tire treads are even across all four tires and that there is enough tread left to give you traction while you are driving. Check the tire pressure as well to ensure the tires are safely inflated. Listen carefully: Turn off the radio in the car so that you can hear the sounds of the car. Be sure to make note of any noises that don't sound normal, such as rumbling, squeaking when you press on the brakes or clunking noises. Vary your speed so that you can listen for issues at a range of speeds. Take your time: Don't feel rushed into making a decision. You can test drive the vehicle more than once before you make up your mind. Be sure to drive at low and high speeds, make turns and start and stop while you are driving so that you can be confident that the vehicle is in good shape. Get a second opinion: if you aren't comfortable looking under the hood or inspecting the vehicle yourself, talk to the seller and bring the vehicle to a mechanic you trust to do the inspection for you. At the end of the day, you are the one paying for the vehicle, so you need to make sure you are comfortable with your decision. Here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac, we have a large variety of vehicles on our lot, and our service department is fully equipped to do repairs and standard maintenance. If you are interested in any of the vehicles on our lot, you can call us or set up a test drive appointment online today!

A leaking air conditioning system can take a morning commute and make it feel like a nightmare. With no cool air, your daily drive can be a sweaty one. If you're worried you've got a leaking A/C unit, check out the symptoms here. more Can I Fix a Leaking Vehicle Air Conditioner? There are two main components that can cause an air conditioner to leak, and they are age and moisture. As simple as that sounds, the rubber seals and hoses inside the A/C system are affected by both of these things and over time will break down. Moisture is a real troublemaker when it comes to your A/C as it mixes with the refrigerant and creates a corrosive liquid that is sure to kill your air conditioning system. Read More: Sick of a Streaky Windshield? Read Here to Clean It For Good! A failed hose, seal or component can result in leaking refrigerant and thus a much less effective air conditioning system. A lot of times this will become apparent when your A/C unit starts to blow air that isn't as cool as it once was. Other issues that can cause this lack of cool air are: A clogged expansion tube or refrigerant charging hose Failed compressor or compressor clutch Failed blower motor or blower motor resistor Damaged or failed condenser or evaporator Vacuum leaks Failed switch, fuse, relay, control module Schedule Air Conditioner Service Kenosha WI If your air conditioning unit could use some tuning up, give us a call or schedule a service center appointment online. We are here to help you get your car back on the road in no time!

When the rain starts and you turn on your windshield wipers, there's nothing worse than streaks in your line of sight, potentially causing a dangerous situation for you and your passengers. It's important to be able to see out of all your windows, and streaks don't need to stand in your way. Follow these instructions to get a streak-free shine with a little at-home elbow grease. more What Makes Streaks On Windshield? The streaks on your windshield can come from several different things. First, imperfections in your windshield can keep your wipers from performing as dirt can become trapped in those areas. Second, you might have debris and dirt built up on your wiper blades. Finally, you might just have tough dirt and grime on your windshield and where your wiper arms rest when in the off position. Read More: Cleaning Your Windshield Wiper Fluid Nozzles So, how can we solve this issue without having to spend money having a professional take care of it? Follow the steps below and clean the problem areas to have a streak-free driving experience this spring and summer. Where to Clean to Stop Windshield Streaks You Will Need: 1 Bottle of Spray Glass Cleaner, 1 Microfiber Wash Cloth Step 1: Spray the cleaner generously across the whole windshield. Make sure the windshield wipers are in their off position, and then wipe the window in top to bottom motions working your way across the whole thing. Be sure not to wipe in short motions or circular motions as this might cause more streaks. Step 2: Lift your windshield wipers so they are standing up and off your windshield. Then spray cleaner where the blades rest to wipe out any dirt or debris that may be collected there. Step 3: Finally, spray directly onto the cloth and then clean off the wiper blades.  Any buildup on them can keep them from taking water off your windshield and can cause streaking. If you notice that your blades are pretty beat up, it's probably time to replace them! Give us a call and we'll help you choose the right replacements for your vehicle and driving needs.

Your vehicle has two nozzles that spray windshield wiper fluid onto your windshield, allowing your wiper blades to wipe away dirt and debris that are blocking your view. Instead of simply driving with a dirty windshield when the cleaning liquid isn't spraying out, use these instructions to clean out the dirt and debris that might be impacting your nozzles. more Read More: Why Driving on Empty is Bad For Your Car Three Steps to Clean Your Windshield Cleaner Spray Nozzles Your spray nozzles will most likely be located either on the hood of your car or in the gap between your hood and the windshield. In either case, dirt can impact the effectiveness of the sprayers. Before you assume your nozzles are blocked, make sure you have windshield wiper fluid in the reservoir. Start the cleaning process by using your hands or a tweezers to remove any visible dirt or debris. If after testing it following that step you still don't see any fluid spray out, move on to the list of tools below to try and really remove any potential debris from the nozzle. Tools for Cleaning Spray Nozzle: Compressed Air Old Toothbrush Thin Wire Warm Water Check This Out: Spring Cleaning Checklist for Your Car Use any of the tools above necessary to remove the debris from the clogged nozzle. Test the wiper fluid spray between each tool you use to see if you've got things cleared up.

So you're on the way to work and the gas light comes on. You know your vehicle can drive a bit more once the tank reads as empty, but does it have an effect on the health of your vehicle's engine? Check out these reasons why driving with little fuel can do a lot more than leave you stranded on the side of the road when it runs out. more How Far Can I Really Drive on Empty? The primary concern when your empty fuel light comes on is that your vehicle will run completely out of fuel and you'll be left on the side of the road. However, there are also ways that driving on empty can damage your vehicle. Read More: Your Vehicle Spring Cleaning Checklist When your low fuel light turns on, it means your vehicle has 10%-15% of its fuel left in the tank. You might think to yourself that you definitely have a few miles left before you need to stop and fill up, but your fuel pump is much more likely to run into issues when your fuel drops below a quarter of a tank. Your fuel pump send the fuel from your tank to your engine, and the fuel in the tank helps to keep the pump cool and lubricated. With low fuel, your pump could overheat or eventually fail completely. Another risk that comes with driving on low fuel levels is the potential for particulates damaging your engine or fuel pump. If there are any pieces of dirt in your fuel, they will settle at the bottom of the tank and are much more likely to end up in your fuel pump if your fuel levels are low. As your fuel pump (and engine!) are expensive parts to replace or repair, it's worth the peace of mind to keep your fuel levels above a quarter of a tank when you can.