Category Archives: Maintenance and Service

Is your steering wheel sticking on your Buick or GMC

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If you are driving an older car, than you may notice that it isn’t as easy as it used to be to make turns.  If you think that you are having to use more force to turn the wheel, or that it starts to stick, then that means that you are probably going to need to add or flush your power steering fluid.  Like many other parts of your car, your power steering is accomplished by a fluid that helps you drive your car with ease.  Over time, the steering fluid may get low, or become dirty and contaminated, which means you have to get rid of the old, and add in the new.

This can be easily done at home, but there is more to it than taking off a cap and adding more fluid.  The video below is a great walk through on how to flush your car’s power steering fluid.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u1EY2LCGRI

If you still feel that you are having problems turning your steering wheel, then you may want to take your car to a mechanic to make sure there aren’t any bigger problems. You can’t drive what you can’t steer. If you are looking for a new car that you can control with ease, then just swing by Freeman Grapevine and I’ll get you a great deal on a new Buick or GMC.

Proper Spare Tire Maintenance

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What’s the one thing that you really take for granted in regards to your car? Your A/C? The heated leather seats? How about the spare tire?

Freeman Grapevine wants to remind you that proper attention given to your spare tire will certainly pay off. Come on, this is Dallas Fort Worth, it’s like the road debris capital of the world here.

If you think that checking the air pressure in your spare might seem like common sense, you’d be surprised. For many people, it’s out of sight are also out of mind. Getting a flat is bad enough. Actually having a spare that is too under-inflated, well that will just ruin your day.

Many new cars have an on-board monitoring system that alerts you if your spare needs air. Pay attention to the warning or you will be paying for a tow truck.

Honestly, you should already know how to do this, but below is a brief video video on how to remove your spare. In fact, your spare might be even easier to access, as it might be contained in a compartment under your cargo space floor.

Check your spare tire monthly and start making that a habit. Remember, having a properly maintained spare tire, doesn’t mean doubling your waist size, but being a little more vigilant in regards to keeping your spare in good shape.

The Importance Of Your Engine’s Cooling System

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The engine cooling system is one of the most critical elements of engine performance and reliability but is often the most neglected maintenance item for all vehicles on the road today. Common, at home, flush procedures are not enough to remove the amount of contaminants present in neglected vehicles. There is a pretty good possibility that you don’t have the proper equipment to complete a really good contamination flush. Bring it to Freeman Grapevine for a power clean flush which is similar to the video below.

Doing a thorough power clean will not only increase engine cooling efficiency, but it will also help protect the life of the water pump. Remember, your at home flush probably just isn’t going to be enough to remove a majority of the contaminates. Get your fluids flushed right here at Freemen Grapevine.

Learn the Importance of your New Car’s Air Intake System

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The safety, security, and performance of your new Buick, GMC or other brand is crucial if you desire to travel without fault.  In order to ensure that each of these elements are at their highest quality you must ensure that you are constantly maintaining every element of your new car or truck.

The problem is that many people will neglect to follow up on common vehicle problems unless these problems hinder the operation  of their vehicle.  This is the worse thing you can do.  A problem which may seem small right now could erupt into an even larger scale problem that could ultimately cost you a great deal more money than if you would have corrected the issue when it first was revealed.

One problem that many people attempt to avoid dealing with is issues with their vehicles air intake system.  If you remember one thing about this article it should be this:

“The air intake mechanism in your vehicle can’t be ignored!  Ignoring this element could cause additional damage to your vehicle and could also render it useless.”

What Can Happen If I Don’t Repair Or Replace My Damaged Air Intake System?

Deposits can accumulate on air intake valves, fuel injectors, and combustion chambers.  When this happens, your vehicle could lose power and be rendered useless.  You could also experience a misfire, knocking, or a rough idle.   Finally, you may have a very hard time starting your car.

What Do I Do If I Am Experiencing Issues With My Air Intake System?

If you are experiencing issues with your vehicles air intake system you should immediately stop driving the vehicle and immediately correct the issue.  You can attempt to clean the air intake mechanism on your own, or you can take your vehicle to a trained specialist who can repair and clean or replace your vehicles air intake mechanism for you.

The good news is that a new air intake system is inexpensive and can generally be replaced with little effort.  Even if you choose to carry out this task on your own, you will quickly discover that it is a very simplistic process.  Additionally, you will quickly be pleased with the manner in which your vehicle will operate once you have cleaned, repaired, or replaced your damage system.

Here’s a fun little video to show you how easy it is to clean your new car’s air intake system: (Yes, I know the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car.)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDHFm-4QFvs

If you have any more questions about your air intake system, just call or visit Freeman Grapevine. Remember, having a clean and properly functioning air intake system is paramount for your Buick, GMC or any any other brand to function efficiently.

Winterize your Buick Or GMC

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You may have never heard of the term “Winterization” before. RVers and Boaters are well aware of this term, but drivers aren’t really so much, especially here in Texas where our winters are especially mild.

However, something tells me that this year Dallas and Fort Worth are going to see a fairly cold winter and there are certain thing you should do to prepare for the colder months. There are a number of things that can go wrong with fluids, belts, hoses and wipers among other things, when the weather gets cold.

Check out the video below for some good tips on how to get your car ready for the winter, or “winterize” your Buick, or GMC. It goes over the winterization process in good detail.

Now some of this winterization you can do on your own, but it’s probably better to bring it into your Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine so you know that all of your fluids are being changed properly and as well as saving you a ton of time if you need to change out any hoses or belts. If you have any questions about the winterization of your Buick or GMC, give Freeman Grapevine before it gets too cold and you are left stranded in the cold.

Noisy Front End, You May Need A Wheel Hub Replacement

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If you have a noisy front end suspension, shaking steering wheel or hear a low growling noise you may need to have your hub bearing assembly examined and replaced. Let me say right off the bat, that this is not something you should ignore, or let go. We want you to know that if you do, it can cause further damage and a possible catastrophic failure of your steering system.

Before assuming that you have a hub bearing assembly problem, you’ll first want to verify the source of the noise. Often noise can be caused by newly paved or uneven roads, tire pattern or uneven tire wear caused by other suspension issues. This makes diagnosing a faulty hub bearing assembly tough sometimes.

What exactly is a hub bearing assemble? It’s basically bearing mounted inside the hub which is attached to the axle and keeps the wheels spinning smoothly.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpdghLj6AhE

A worn, or faulty hub bearing assembly is nothing to take lightly, as it could result in the loss of steering, a total separation of the wheel which will result in an accident. If you are hearing any noise coming from your front end and you aren’t sure what it is, we suggest that you bring it in to us, Freeman Grapevine, for further diagnosis and inspection.

Dallas Buick and GMC Owners: Freeman Grapevine Has The Cure For Your Foggy Headlights

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We see a lot of foggy headlights come through the Freeman Grapevine Service Department to be restored. Hazy, or foggy headlights are fairly common place, especially in constantly changing and extreme weather conditions of the DFW Metroplex. Keep in mind, that cleaning foggy headlights might not be a problem that you have to deal with right now with your new Buick or GMC, but it might pop up somewhere down the road. Most modern new car headlights are made out of plastic, and as the years pass, light causes them to oxidize and it forms a yellowish tint over the lenses. This wasn’t really a problem back before the 1980s when most headlight covers were made of glass. That’s right all you youngsters, at one time headlights were glass and almost as easy to change as light bulb…but I digress.

Modern car manufacturers put a coating on the headlights to help keep the oxidizing at bay, but given enough time, those headlights are still going to fog up. This can have a severe impact on your night time driving visibility. Light rays can be cut and diffused by an oxidized headlight lens to the point of being dangerous.

The good news is, if you notice your headlight lenses are starting to turn yellow, you don’t have to throw them out and get new ones (which a lot of people do, unfortunately). It’s extremely expensive to buy replacement lenses. You can save yourself some money and make your headlights good as new by fixing it yourself or bringing your car into Freeman Grapvine, and we can clean them to look like the day your bought your Buick or GMC.

I found this do it yourself from Auto Amateur Bob that explains the process perfectly:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPb0DqTlG4o

Again, If you’d rather a professional take a look at your hazy, foggy or oxidized headlight lenses, just swing by Freeman Grapevine. We’ll be able to clean them in a flash and it’s just one less thing you’ll have to worry about.


How To Check Your Radiator For Leaks

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Your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine wants to remind you that it’s a good thing to check your radiator periodically for leaks. A large leak is obviously easy to spot, as you will see green anti-freeze collecting under your vehicle. However, not all leaks are as easy to determine. For example, the walls of your radiator are fairly thin and can develop cracks from the pressure that build up during normal driving. These tiny fissures may be leaking fluid at a slow pace and it might be difficult to tell if there is even a leak at all. Check out the video below to see how you can help diagnose a radiator leak your car.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzWvRA3-jV0&NR=1

Was this helpful? Even though your car may be new, I wanted to stress the importance of keeping that new car in perfect working condition. If you think you may have a leak in your radiator, bring your car into Freeman Grapevine ASAP before it gets worse. A leaking radiator can turn into a catastrophic breakdown. Fix it before it does.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC, Diagnosing A Broken Tie Rod

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Think you feel a clunk or shake in the steering wheel? You might have a bent tie rod! Your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer wants you to know that if you feel any type of tie rod issues, you should probably bring in your Dallas Buick, or GMC ASAP. Leaving any problem unattended to is only going  to exacerbate any problem you ma be experiencing with noise or poor performance.

Here’s a great video from 1A-auto.com that will help you diagnose a broken tie rod

If you’ve already don the diagnosis or think that your Fort Worth Buick or GMC may be suffering from the issue, bring it by your Metroplex Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine.

Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC Dealer: How Long Has Your Check Engine Light Been On

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Your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC Dealer, Freeman Grapevine wants to know, when was the last time you actually looked at the instrument cluster in your car? It’s really easy to neglect keeping yourself informed about your vehicle, even though gauges and lights are giving you constant information. I know people who insist that their “Check Engine” light doesn’t really mean much and they’ve been driving with it on for “over a year”. Really? That’s not terribly smart. Make sure you read your new car manual too find out and take a look at something other than your speedometer from time to time.

Here’s a good (yet fuzzy) video I found that illustrates this well. WATCH IT! IT COULD SAVE YOU MONEY!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEs702FK8Kc

IF you have any questions feel free to ask your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC Dealer, Freeman Grapevine we know how to “Turn the Light off” in your new car.