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You can pay a bunch of money to have an emergency kit made for your vehicle, or you can throw together the necessities and keep them in your vehicle for just a few dollars. While we can't stop you from purchasing an expensive kit, we can give you our best suggestions for DIY vehicle emergency kit items and help you feel more confidence as you hit the road. It's important to have all of these items with you inside your vehicle, as we usually don't predict car trouble or an accident. We'll give you our top 5 recommendations for a vehicle emergency kit. more 5 Perfectly Affordable Items for Your Car Emergency Kit Save Money Have All Your Tools Drive With Confidence A Small Blanket Keeping yourself warm is only one of the many uses for a small blanket in your vehicle. Should you be stuck in your car for hours waiting for a tow, you can snuggle up for a nap in this blanket. It is also handy for putting on the ground when you are changing a tire, or wrapping around a sick passenger to keep them comfortable. In the unfortunate event of an injury, the blanket can be used to hold pressure to the affected person's wound. A Gallon of Water Inexpensive and a little chunky, this is the most important item on our list. Clean, filtered water in your vehicle is great for drinking, and can help with an overheating engine. You can pour a little water into your radiator to cool it down. It won't last long, but if you do this, you might be able to reach your destination or a nearby rest stop. Read More: Tips for Warming Up Your Car Some Nonperishable Snacks We all get a little more easily frustrated and anger more easily when we are hungry. If you are caught stopped traffic or are waiting for a tow truck, it's helpful to have a little something to snack on. Things like hard candies, granola bars, nuts, and dried fruit are great options to give your blood sugar a little boost and keep your attitude bright, even in an unfortunate situation. Basic First-Aid Supplies These shouldn't surprise you. In the case of an injured or sick person, you will want to have a few basic items on hand. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and aspirin can help with minor aches and pains, while other items like, gauze, medical tape, alcohol pads, Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, and some antacids can come in handy in a pinch. Read More: Getting Bad Smells Out of Car Seats A Flashlight Basically any vehicle trouble is made worse by a lack of light. Nighttime travelling issues can really put a damper on finding a solution. Solve this potential issue by keeping a flashlight, headlamp, and some extra batteries in your emergency kit. Whether you're trying to look at your engine, are helping another driver with car issues, or simply need to find something in the back seat, a light will certainly make life easier.

The color of your vehicle's exhaust can tell you a lot about the health and condition of your engine. Different colors of exhaust indicate different issues, and can result in different types of repairs needed. With our vehicles being so complex, it can be difficult to determine what is wrong with your vehicle. So, wondering what to do when your Buick Regal has blue exhaust smoke? We'll tell you what it means and what to do next! more What Color Should my Car's Exhaust Be? Much like your body tells you what is wrong with the inside, based on what is coming out, your car can tell you what is wrong with the inner parts by the color of smoke coming from the exhaust. A healthy car shouldn't be blowing colored smoke. In warm weather, gray, white, blue, or black smoke from your exhaust system can indicate an issue. However, in colder weather, your vehicle will still blow steam from your exhaust. That is simply because of the heat coming out, and not a reason for concern. Read More: Tips and Tricks Blog Posts The short list of colors that your smoke can blow is a great indicator of internal issues. Black smoke means your engine is burning too much fuel. Thick white smoke means your engine is leaking and burning coolant. Either of these smoke issues can result in a larger problem down the road, so it's best to consult a technician. Blue or Gray Exhaust Smoke If your vehicle has blue smoke coming out, it means that your engine is burning oil. When oil leaks past where it should be, it can be mixed with the fuel and burned in the combustion chamber. This often results in a smell accompanying the burning oil. If you are seeing blue smoke, check your oil levels frequently and watch out for rough starts. If you drive an old vehicle and the leak is minimal, your best bet is to top of your oil regularly. Newer cars, however, should not be burning oil and you should consult a professional. Read More: Vehicle Service Blogs and Tips Gray smoke can also be an indicator of burning oil. It's important to make sure that your vehicle is not burning large amounts of oil for a variety of reasons. Not only is it bad for the environment, but it is a problem that only gets worse with time. Catching the oil burning in the early stages could save you money in the long run.

Getting Stink Out of Dirty Car Whether you are buying a used vehicle or you've had an incident in your own car, it can be very irritating to get the bad smells out of your seats and carpet. You spend a lot of time in your car, so you don't want to drive around torturing your olfactory system. We'll give you some great tips for getting bad smells out of your car's seats and carpet. more Getting Rid of Old Car Smell There are different types of car smells, and one of the most difficult to cure can be the smell of an old car. With old car smell, you can start with the basics. Get an air-freshener and if you have cloth seats, spray things down with Febreeze fabric spray. It may never quite go away, but these two things together are sure to help! If that doesn't help, shampooing your seats and carpet with car-specific products might be your best (if not slightly time consuming) option! Read More: Synthetic vs Conventional Oil Getting Rid of Cigarette Smell in Car A great tip for cigarette smell in a car can be to place dryer sheets around the vehicle cabin! Other great smell absorbers are baking soda or kitty litter. Shampooing and spraying the seats may help, but smoke can be a tricky thing to lose completely. It might just take time and multiple methods! Check This Out: 4 Reasons to Choose an SUV over a Minivan Getting Rid of Bodily Fluid Smells in the Car Whether it came out one way or another, it can be tricky to deal with smells left over from bodily fluids. The good news here is that you can spot treat the area where the smell is coming from, and it should help eliminate the smell! Starting with vinegar and water (50/50) you want to work on disinfecting the area and loosening any remaining mess. Then let everything dry. The next step is to apply baking soda to the area and give it time to absorb some smell. Once you've scrubbed it down after using the vinegar and baking soda, the smell should be considerably better. Don't Miss Out: Vehicle Maintenance Coupons Kenosha WI Nothing is Working? If you can't get things cleaned up, one of the best things to do is to go and get your car detailed. Essentially, we will take the time to steam clean your seats and carpet. It might cost more, but you can rest assured that you'll be dealing with less smells after we're done! Contact Our Service Center

Three Forgotten Fall Maintenance Items Fall is a great time to get caught up on vehicle maintenance that you might have forgotten to do in the spring and summer. Thankfully, the team at Palmen GM is happy to help out by reminding you of some great ways to keep your vehicle running its best for fall. Heading into winter will be less stressful and more exciting with a car that is prepared to handle the road. Read on to find out more! more Fall Has Lots of Rain, Too! Chilly fall days can consist of rain or sleet or sunshine, and in Wisconsin, you never know what you're gonna get! If you didn't change your windshield wiper blades in the spring, this can be a great time to do so. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to potentially scary driving conditions. Check This Out! Millennials Love Ugly Cars? Icy Roads are On the Way! While it may not be that time yet, the icy roads of winter are just around the corner. Fall is a great time to start looking for deals on new tires or snow tires. If you notice that your wheels are getting a little bald, or your tires are older than makes them safe, give us a call. We would love to help you find great new tires to drive with confidence this winter. Read More! The Cadillac ATS Coupe is Perfect for Empty Nesters Wax and Wash It might not be a sunny gorgeous day outside anymore, but giving your car a little TLC before the winter arrives can be a great help in ensuring your paint makes it through the tough winter. Salt from the roads and dirt from the wet weather can really do some serious damage to an unprotected vehicle exterior. Take the extra step and get it cleaned up. You'll thank yourself later. Do you have any extra tips for fall to offer? Leave them in the comments section below, and be sure to give us a call with any questions you may have! We love to help our customers get the help they need to drive a safe and comfortable car all year round. Check Out Our Service Center Specials! Check Out Our Used Car Inventory!

? Keyless entry is a standard feature on vehicles today. It simply means that you have the ability to unlock your vehicle without using your key. While this might be a simple idea, there are lots of really awesome vehicle technologies that are making locking and unlocking vehicles more and more convenient! Read more here to find out about other keyless entry methods being used in new vehicles. more New vehicles come equipped with touch screens, and rear view cameras, and Bluetooth technology. It's crazy how fast the world of automotives is changing. Here are some examples of new technology available for vehicle buyers today: Volkswagen teamed up with Apple to create an App that allows vehicle owners to lock and unlock their vehicle using their phone. Long distance locking and unlocking has not been possible before this, and it is saving lots of drivers the hassle of needing to have their vehicle opened by a lock smith! Many vehicles come with the option for text alerts of their vehicle status. Whether that be the level of fuel or the vehicle security, you can know your vehicle stats simply by checking your phone! Lots of newer cars today have the option of wifi and intense 4G connectivity, making entertainment and internet use inside the vehicle both simple and fast. On top of great convenience features, vehicles today like the 2015 Buick Regal or the 2014 Cadillac ELR are getting fantastic fuel economy ratings, easily saving their owners money on fuel every time they hit the road. READ MORE: Does My Car Really Need Premium Fuel? There are so many amazing features and technologies that are rolling onto dealership lots each year. Buying a new car today means something completely different than it has in previous years, and we are sure that the creative minds behind new vehicles in years to come will continue to make driving an easier and more pleasurable experience for everyone! Interested in taking a new vehicle for a test drive? Feel free to contact us or to schedule your appointment online. Our skilled professionals would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding vehicles in our large inventory, or the financing process. We look forwarding to hearing from you! Happy Driving!

Why is premium fuel more expensive? There are few choices to make at the gas station. Namely, which fuel to put in the car. Most of us know the difference between regular and diesel fuel, but what makes the different options for regular fuel cost more or less? Why is premium fuel more expensive? We are here to talk about that today. Read on to learn more about premium fuel. more One of the worst things about driving a car is having to spend money on fuel every few days. It seems to be used up more quickly than it should, and it can cost a bundle to fill up the tank. So why would anyone choose to buy the more expensive fuel option, when there are at least 2 cheaper options? What makes premium fuel worth the extra money? Basically, it comes down to your car's engine. Your vehicle engine operates with a certain compression ratio. A higher ratio needs fuel that is less combustible, while a lower compression ratio can handle the cheaper stuff. An owners' manual for any vehicle should include information inside as to which fuel to put in the vehicle. While many only suggest the premium fuel, even fewer make it a requirement. If the suggestion is there, you are most likely safe to try the cheaper fuel. READ MORE: Synthetic vs Conventional Oil What happens if I put cheaper fuel in an engine that needs the premium fuel? A lower octane fuel in an engine with a high compression ratio will produce an engine knock. This is an often audible sound that can lead to engine damage and expensive repairs down the road. It is important to give a vehicle the fuel it needs to run smoothly. Have other questions about what your car needs? Give our service center a call. Our friendly and professional staff is always happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have! Need to bring your car in for service? No problem! Schedule your own appointment online! We look forward to seeing you!

The Benefits of Waxing Your Car Sometimes, waxing a car just seems like a waste of time. There’s only so many hours in the day and waxing a car takes a little time. However, the benefits of waxing the car are just as prevalent today as they were years ago when people waxed their cars more often. We’ll tell you why you should do it, and how often. Read on! more Back in the day, cars rolled off dealership lots with a lot less protection than cars today. The paint had fewer layers of protection and needed wax to keep it from being scratched and otherwise harmed while out on the road. Wax today is like old wax times ten. It works much better, is easier to apply, and needs to be applied less often. Cars today come ready to handle the environment much more easily, but a coat of wax every so often can still add protection from scratches and other damage. Modern car wax technology has made it quicker and easier to apply, and only needs to be applied 2-3 times per year. It is suggested that you give your car a wax each fall and each spring to maintain a watertight and shiny exterior. Even if you obsess over your car paint, modern wax doesn’t need to be applied more than 4 times per year, and spray wax is a great way to maintain the shine during the months you don’t apply wax manually. How is your car looking and feeling these days? Could it use a shine up and a tune up? Sometimes even the greatest cars need a little love and maintenance. Bring in your vehicle to see us and our team of experienced automotive experts at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac in Kenosha WI. We look forward to hearing from you!

How do I switch my Buick Verano to synthetic oil Does the latest statistics and conversation about synthetic oil have you scratching your head? What’s the difference? Why should I switch? How do I switch my Buick Verano to synthetic oil? These are all valuable questions that we hope to answer in this blog post. Read on to find out more about the benefits of synthetic oil. more There are lots of automotive people walking around talking about the benefits of switching to synthetic motor oil. Here are a few of them: It keeps your engine cleaner: Conventional oil can become a sludge as is gets dirtier which can decrease the efficiency of your engine. Synthetic oil is more pure and resists the formation of sludge. Increases engine life: Conventional oil loses it’s oily texture as it gets dirty and used. This means that the parts inside your engine are rubbing together and not protected. Synthetic oil retains it’s slippery abilities for much longer. Winter is no match for it: Cold weather makes oil much thicker and as a result, it doesn’t do it’s job very well until the engine is properly warmed up. Synthetic oil, on the other hand, works just as well in cold weather and keeps the engine running in top shape even in the midst of Wisconsin’s intense coldness. Less frequent oil changes: The synthetic oil stays cleaner, longer. This means that it can carry a car farther between oil changes. So, what is the problem and why don’t we all just use synthetic oil? Well here are a few reasons why it’s a big choice to make. Once you go synthetic, you can’t go back! It’s a one-time switch over, so you need to make the decision and stick with it! It’s more expensive than conventional motor oil. You get this oil changed less frequently, but when you DO change it, it costs a little more. It evens out, but with an engine that runs more smoothly and less frequent oil changes, it just about pays for itself! Synthetic oils cannot fix a vehicle that is worn out or running poorly. It works best on newer vehicles. Now, how do you make the switch? If you are considering switching to synthetic oil, bring in your vehicle to see the experts here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac. We will get your vehicle’s oil switched and make sure that everything else in your car looks good. Our team of highly experienced technicians are always prepared and will get the job done quickly and affordably.

Buick Dealerships Win for Best Customer Service We have all had to take our car into the repair shop at least once. Much like going to the dentist, it is something we would love to avoid. However, a trip to the service department of a dealership doesn’t have to be a horrible experience and the people at Buick dealerships are proving that. In a recent ranking, people’s rankings showed that Buick dealerships have the happiest customers. Read on and we’ll tell you more about why that is true. more In a recent poll done by J. D. Power and Associates, Buick came out as the number one vehicle dealership with the happiest customers overall. Between the sales process, service department, and interaction with workers there. This poll put Buick in the lead but also showed the Chrysler brand vehicles to be in the very bottom. Surprised? Driving a Buick seems like a great idea these days since they have progressed so much over the last few years in style and efficiency. On top of that, Buick seems to have the customer service down pat! Have you been in lately to check out the great deals and discounts on Buick vehicles like the 2015 Buick Verano? Perhaps the 2015 Buick Regal? They are all so great-looking these days. The stereotypical “old people” Buick’s are gone and their replacements are some really stylish and well-designed vehicles that are toppings the charts in lots of categories. If you are curious about financing for a new Buick, at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac, the process is very simple and easy. You can get pre-approved for financing online and even see how much your trade-in is worth! There’s no reason to drive to the dealership when you have so much information and possibility at your fingertips. Let us know what we can do to help. We want to make your car shopping process as stress-free and enjoyable as we can. Be sure to bring your vehicle in to see us when you need regular maintenance or repair. Buick dealerships are #1 in customer service and we want to show you what that means!

How Do I Fix a Vibrating Car? Have you ever sat behind the wheel of a car that shakes? It can be really frustrating to deal with the vibrating steering wheel. We all wish that our cars ran like when they were new, but after many miles our cars just start to show their age. So how do I fix a vibrating car? more First things first, a car that runs well is bound to be a safer car. Let's figure out why it's vibrating. That's half the battle! Do you feel the vibrating in your steering wheel when you are moving? If this is the case, your wheels might need to be balanced. A wheel that is off balance can make a lot of vibration. This is a cheap fix!  You might also want to try replacing your shocks or struts. If either of these things are worn, it can make for uneven driving and bouncing.  The vibration could also be hiding in your upper strut bearings. Most full-service tire shops can check and fix these (they are accessed from under the hood).  You should check and/or replace your ball joints, which allow the car to move up and down and side to side while also keeping your suspension tight. Shaking is unavoidable if these are worn out.  It might also do good to check and replace your tie rod ends. Since these are important in connecting your steering rack to the wheels, it can cause vibration if the wheels are even slightly going in different directions. Or Does your vehicle vibrate when you are sitting in idle? Check to see if you have a broken motor mount. A engine that isn’t mounted correctly will be moving around under the hood at low RPM.  You might also be having issues with the fuel system. Watch your RPM when you are idling again. If it seems erratic or drops very suddenly, this can cause shaking or vibration. Is it shaking when you are accelerating? Have your transmission fluid and filter checked. If you have low transmission fluid, it can cause your car to shake when you are speeding up. The same goes for the filter. Finally, you might have a worn universal joint. This is really obvious when you accelerate and should be fixed right away! Otherwise you might end up on the side of the road somewhere. Feeling your car shaking and don’t know what to do? Come in to see us at Palmen GM in Kenosha WI. We can service your car or help get you into a new or used vehicle right away!

When should you get your brakes checked? When it comes to vehicle systems that are most crucial for safety on the road, not enough can ever really be said about brakes. The problem is, it's one of those car problems we don't always detect in a timely fashion. Or maybe we sense that our brakes aren't as tip-top as they once were but we're putting off having them checked out at a service center because we think it's okay to ride it out a bit before things get bad. We strongly advise against waiting, as brake issues can be among the most dangerous to you and the other drivers with whom you share the road. When should you get your brakes checked? Here are some signs that it's time: more 1. You feel a pull toward one side while you're braking. 2. Your brake pedal needs to get pushed almost all the way to the floor in order to come to a stop, or you feel as though you're having to apply more pressure than usual when braking. 3. You hear any strange noises whatsoever when you step on the brakes. This might be a grinding, squeaking, screeching, clicking, or clunking. Whatever it sounds like, it means you need to have your brakes looked at. 4.  You feel a vibration or pulsating feeling when you apply the brakes. The key with all of these warning signs is to stay alert and have them looked at as soon as possible. If you ignore these issues, you run the risk of starting to get used to them and forgetting what healthy brakes feel like. That's not something we want you getting out of touch with! If you have any questions at all about whether your brakes are in need of replacement or repair, please schedule an appointment with the professionals here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac. We're here to help!

Is the Buick LaCrosse reliable? When you're shopping for a new or used car, one thing that's definitely on your mind is whether or not it's going to be dependable for you in the long term. Many of us turn to trusted sources such as Consumer Reports to learn about how the vehicles we're interested in stack up to others that are in the same or a similar class. If you're wondering, " Is the Buick LaCrosse reliable?," a recent article from Consumer Reports says that the popular sedan has improved in its most recent model and Buick overall ranks in the top ten brands for reliability! more So what else is there to love about the new Buick LaCrosse in addition to its high ranking from this trusted research source? This capable five-seater comes in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive, so if you're a driver who prefers the advantages that come with all-wheel drive, particularly for winter, this is a model that's versatile enough for you. There's also a five year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty, giving you plenty of peace of mind when it comes to GM backing up its work on this popular model. If you do encounter any trouble with your engine, just bring your LaCrosse in to our service center here for warranty-covered repairs and we'll be glad to get you in and out in no time. Your engine options with the Buick LaCrosse consist of a 2.4-liter that gets 184 horsepower or, for those of you who like a little more oomph behind the wheel, there's also a 3.5-liter V6 which yields an impressive 303 horsepower. Think the Buick LaCrosse might be the dependable new ride you've been looking for? Come on in and see us here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac in Kenosha and we'll gladly help you schedule a test drive and answer any questions you may have.