All posts by Ozzie

Find A Bad Wheel Bearing Everytime

Parts and Accessories, , , , , ,

find bad bearing, front bearing set, front wheel bearings, bad bearings, car bearings, wheel bearings, freeman grapevine

This, quite possibly, is the easiest way to find and diagnose a bad wheel bearing. Let’s say that you know you have a bad wheel bearing because you can year it on the road. However, when you lift it and spin your wheel, you can’t hear it. You must not have a bad wheel bearing. Wait!!! just because you don’t hear it now doesn’t mean you don’t have a bearing issue. Check out the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzB-V8CrSn8

You are going to have to use feel to determine if you are having a wheel bearing issue. Remember to put your hand on the spring on the strut, you’ll feel a roughness in the spring.

If you think you need help with your wheel bearings, don’t hesitate to call Freeman Grapevine. We’ll put this exact technique to use ourselves with your GM car on the lift. It’s the easiest way to find a bad wheel bearing.

Changing The Oil In Your Rear Differential

Maintenance and Service, ,

rear differential, freeman grapevine, differential

If you’ve ever considered changing your rear differential  fluid, or differential oil check out the video below. It’s very informative and give a great lesson on how to change your rear differential oil and which differential fluid should you buy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74H41bUUANY

Expert: Nathan McCullough
Bio: Nathan McCullough graduated from Nashville Auto-Diesel College with a GPA of 3.5 and received their Craftsmanship Award and Honor Seal.
Filmmaker: Robert Rogers

However, if you feel that changing your rear differential fluid is a little out of your mechanical prowess, then don’t hesitate to swing by Freeman Grapevine. This type of periodic maintenance can be tricky, so make you do your research and check your cars manual to

Buying A New Car Online, How Easy Is It

Tips and HInts, , , , , , ,

buying a car online, online car, internet car buyng, easy car buying, freeman grapevine, online purchase, buick, gmc

Is buying a new car online right for you? That’s a really good question. With more online resources the and ever, the automotive industry on the dealer side has changed quite a bit. First, the amount of information readily available to the potential car buyers is vast. There’s almost noting you can’t find out online. In fact, more people than ever are coming into my dealership extremely well prepared with knowledge about a particular Buick, or GMC that they have done mounds of research on.

Well, what about actually purchasing a vehicle online? This is something that we are seeing more and more. People are opting to take their purchasing power online rather than having a face to face with a salesman, which can be uncomfortable and daunting for some. Negotiating price isn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea. This is where buying your newt new car online might be right for you.

I guess one of the misconceptions about an online purchase is that you lose your negotiating power, which is entirely not true. In fact, it puts a little more power in your hands. You now have the ability to take your time when negotiating a price. Just because an online seller gives you a price, that doesn’t mean that you can’t see if there is any wiggle room, or any additional options they might be willing to throw in before you agree to make the purchase.

Check out the new report below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LymvVt0eAvQ

As was state in the video, some people actually enjoy the face to face negotiation process, while others just aren’t that comfortable with it. These are the types of buyers that would benefit from purchasing online. Just remember, regardless if you are making your purchase online, or at the dealership, you are going to want to take a test drive. If you can swing it, rent the vehicle you are looking at purchasing and keep it for a weekend. This way you have a much better idea if that vehicle is going to fit your needs.

So there you go, the face of car buying has changed. You now have a choices. It all depends on what your are more comfortable with. So, if you are looking for a new Buick, or GMC and are interested in buying online, start at Freemangrapevine.com. If you are the type that gets a rush from face to face negotiations, then just swing by Freeman Grapevine and let’s chat.

Has anyone bought a car online before? What was your experience like?

GMC Sierra, The Ultimate Tailgater

GMC, Just for Fun, , , , ,

sierra tailgating, ultimate tailgating, gmc tailgating, freeman grapevine, gmc football, gmc game,Finally, Football is back!!! Of course that means you are busy selecting the games you are going to attend, but more importantly, you are making even bigger preparations for tailgating that game!

Of course, what better way to tailgate more efficiently in a new 2014 GMC Sierra. Sure you can tailgate in any vehicle, but it’s just more authentic in a truck. Am I right? Plus just take a look at how cool this tailgate is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixwpQC_FpBU

You’ll have more space to transport food and beverages, tents, chairs, TVs, and grills (take a look at the one in the picture above…that’s a great grill). Let’s face it, tailgating is the ultimate fan preparation before the teams hit the gridiron.

Check out the fine are of tailgating in this video. It’s worth the watch! (Yeah, It’s a Bengals oriented video…Cowboys fans do it better).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHtwv7D8VWI

If you are looking for a new way to start tailgating, try it in a luxurious new 2014 GMC Sierra. Come and take a look at all of the great tailgating options Freeman Grapevine.

Have any great tailgating stories? Share ’em with us!

GMC Sierra Models Earn Top Safety Rating

GMC, , , ,

2014 gmc sierra denali, freeman grapevine, gmc safety, truck safety, safest truckWould it be fair to say that truck buyers are less concerned with safety than car buyers? I would say emphatically, “No”. Truck buyers are just as concerned with safety as anyone else. GMC was well aware of this when they redesigned the 2014 Sierra and Sierra Denali 1500.

For the first time since the NTSA tightened its truck safety criteria in 2011 two trucks received a top rating. Both we GM vehicles. GMC Sierra models were one of them.

According to multiple news sources:

The GMC Sierra and Sierra Denali 1500 have been accorded the highest possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score

Sierra offers fully boxed frames, extensive use of high-strength steel, and several segment-exclusive safety features are available, including forward collision alert, lane departure warning, and safety alert seat

Sierra set a benchmark for pickup truck safety by offering a full array of advanced features designed to protect occupants before, during and after a collision.

This was no small accomplishment. It took focus and commitment to the design and a passion to follow through with improving and already amazing truck. GMC did just this. However, overall safety certainly wasn’t the only improvement. The new 2014 GMC Sierras have added and extensive array of new details to both the performance of the truck as well as the interior appointments. You can see them all, and take a test drive right here at Freeman Grapevine.

What do you think of the all new 2014 GMC Sierra?

What’s The Difference Between Severe And Ideal Driving Conditions

New Cars, , , ,

check engine light, oil change, engine maintenance, freeman graprvine

What’s the difference between severe and ideal driving conditions? The answer may surprise you. We’re not talking about weather here folks, or even roadway conditions. What we are talking about it how much stress you are putting on your engine through your daily driving habits. For example, what does Start & Stop driving do you the life of your oil, as well as the engine itself when compared to driving longer distances at a constant speed?

There is a long running debate among your average drivers which questions the standard 3,000 mile interval of oil changes. Is it 3,000 miles, is it 5,000 miles? Do you just follow blindly what your owner’s manual tells you. Have you taken into consideration “how” you drive?

Look, some manufacturers vary somewhat in their descriptions of what constitutes severe driving conditions. But as a general rule, a vehicle falls into the sever service category if it experiences any of the following conditions during a typical week of driving:

  • Extensive stop & go driving.
  • Frequent trips under 5 miles
  • Prolonged idling of the engine.
  • Driving in mountainous terrain
  • Operating in cold weather below 10* F (something we don’t need to worry about)
  • Operating in heat above 90* F (something we DO need to worry about)
  • Operating in extreme Humidity
  • Hauling heavy loads

Under any of these conditions, manufacturers usually suggest that the normal interval be cut by anywhere from to one half. Your owner’s manual should list recommended intervals for your particular vehicle under ideal conditions as well as severe driving conditions.

For more information on how to understand the ware and tear that your vehicle may be experience, don’t hesitate to call Freeman Grapevine , or leave a comment below..

Should You Tap Your Brakes To Dry Them Out

Just for Fun, , , , , ,

drum brakes, disc brakes, drying out brakes, freeman grapevine

This is actually a really good question. Growing up, I’m sure that many of us we taught to tap our brakes while stopping in order to dry them out. Especially after plowing through a giant puddle, or cruising through deep water.

However is this old practice still “hold water” today? Have you actually even heard about repeatedly tapping your brakes to dry them out, and if you haven’t, why not? Well, the answer is actually due to a change in the evolution of the modern day braking system on most new cars.

The tapping of your brakes was actually a wise practice back in the days when most cars had drum brakes, but today’s vehicles are now be equipped with disc on all four wheels. Centrifugal force causes the vertical surface of a brake disc to shed moisture quickly, whereas water would collect on the horizontal surfaces of a brake drum and interfere with braking efficiency.

Check out the video below for a great tutorial on how disc brakes work:

However, if you think you are experiencing problems with your braking system and believe  that you need to have pads changed out, or at the very least, have any basic service performed to your brakiing system, don’t hesitate to give Freeman Grapevine a call.

We put a lot of faith in our brakes, so you are better off making sure they are in perfect working order if you believe your vehicle isn’t responding to your braking as it should.

Fixing A Radiator Leak

Maintenance and Service, , , , , ,

As you may, or may not know, if you fail to change your coolant every 100,000 miles, or 5 years or so, you run the risk of it turning corrosive and actually eating the radiator materials from the inside out. This includes the hoses and heater core. The heater core is basically, for lack of a better description is buried deep in your system and can be considered at the very center of your heating and cooling system. If it breaks down long enough it can cause some serious problems, such as causing a leak within the vehicle itself.

However, if you find that it is a hose, a water pump, or the radiator itself, then you are in luck. That’s an easy replacement, or you may even be able to seal the leak.

Check out the video below for a description on where radiators can leak and what you can do about it on your own.

Now, as was stated in the video, sealing a leak, if you can, is only a temporary fix. You are better off replacing the radiator altogether. If you think you have a radiator leak that needs to be fixed in your Buick, or GMC vehicle, feel free to give Freeman Grapevine a call. You can certainly attempt to replace the radiator on your own. It’s not that time consuming, however, if you aren’t comfortable with mechanics, or haven’t changed a radiator yourself before, you may want to give us a call.

 

Pale Blue Smoke From Tailpipe

Maintenance and Service, , , ,

blue smoke tail pipe, burning oil, freeman grapevine

Have you been seeing a pale blue smoke coming out of your tailpipe when you start your engine in the morning? The blue color is an indication that oil is being burned in the cylinders. The fact that it occurs only in the morning means you probably have worn valve guide seals that are leaking tiny amounts of oil into the cylinders overnight. It’s a fairly common problem with older vehicles and not necessarily serious as long as the car is not consuming oil between oil changes.

In order to solve this problem, you are going to need to replace the seals. However, you may have another valve problems,and at worst you may have to replace a piston. Let’s be realistic, unless you are a master mechanic, you are going to want it bring it to Freeman Grapevine, or another qualified mechanic. A severe issue may take a few days to diagnose and fix.

Transmission Buzzing Or Growling

Maintenance and Service, , , ,

broken transmission, transmission growl, transmission problems

 

Quick Tip: Does your transmission growl, or buzz when starting out in drive, or reverse?

That is to say, when you start going. If you hear are hearing noise from your transmission, this can often be a sign that your vehicle is low on transmission fluid. It really could be as simple as that. So, it goes without saying, check your fluid levels first before you start assuming the worst.

However, other possibilities might include a faulty torque converter, a damaged flywheel, of another internal problem that is probably going to require someone to take a look at your transmission. You very likely, are going to need an overhaul.

Check out the video below for some more detailed information about transmission problems.

Now, a potential transmission issue will rear its ugly head. If you suspect that you may have an issue, check your fluid first then call you mechanic. the sooner you do it, the more money you stand to save!