All posts by Ozzie

Hurricane Sandy Flooded Cars Make Way Across Nation

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OK, here’s the deal Dallas Fort Worth. Hurricane Sandy really did a number on the Northeast. The chances of many of the cars which were flooded out being sold for salvage is pretty high. If you are looking at purchasing a used car in the coming months be wary. If you don’t think that a flooded car from the Northeast can make its way to Texas, think again. In fact, those selling salvaged vehicles are going to do everything they can to get the vehicle as far away from the flood zones as possible as to not draw suspicion.

So, how can you check to see if a Dallas Fort Wroth used car you are looking to purchase has been flooded? Check the video below for some  good tips.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNkxICLHC4M&feature=related

Of course, your best bet is to bring the car to a certified technician for a thorough inspection. The bottom line is that if you suspect that a car has been in a flood, DON’T BUY IT! Also, don’t just assume that all of the flooded car up north are going to stay there, there is a good chance that they will make their way as salvages across the country.

If you plan on buying a used car in Dallas or Fort Worth, be aware that you could be purchasing a previously flooded vehicle. So, if you want to just avoid all of the hassle, just come see your Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine. We will not buy, nor sell a car that has previously been flooded.

Halloween Driving Safety Tips

Just for Fun, , ,

Halloween is just a couple of days away and that means the kids are going to be out in droves. If you must drive your Dallas Fort Worth Buick or GMC, take extra special care this holiday season ans the kids are going to be excited and safety is probably the last thing on their mind.

Of course it’s parent’s responsibility to make sure that their kids are save while trick-or-treating, but it’s also yours if you plan to be out on the roads. Remember, take it extra slow in the neighborhoods and suburbs. Don’t just expect kids to be using the corners to cross at, they can come from anywhere.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw_1LRcWuJI

Like the video said, if you can avoid driving at all, that would be the best thing, but if you must drive, keep an extra vigilant watch for kids and parents as they enjoy their Halloween evening Trick or Treating.

This was just another friendly reminder from your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, Freeman Grapevine.

Where’s The Fastest Speed Limit In America

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If you guessed Texas, you are right! Apparently, the House Voted to agree to satisfy Texan’s need for speed. At this point in time, the new speed limit increases aren’t going to be up here in the DFW area any time soon from what I understand. In fact, I believe the 85mph speed limit will be down in the Austin area. Of course, once adopted, you’ll see the new speed limits pop up all over rural stretches of highways.

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

So, how does this make YOU feel? Aren’t people already exceeding the speed limit most ot the time anyway? Will an sped limit increase or decrease the number of accidents on the road? Do you already go 85mph on the highways? If you do, would you let your kids?

These are all very serious questions that need to be considered. I know we all want to get where we are going in a hurry, but is a speed limit increase the answer? It could be. Freeman Grapevine is eager to know what your think about increasing the speed limits to keep up with today’s busy drivers.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About How Gas Is Made, Dallas

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Well since I did a post on the life-cycle of a drop of fuel yesterday, I figured that we ought to show you exactly how gasoline is made. Did you know that 800,000,000 vehicles crowd our busy road ways? How can you keep that many cars on the road? A healthy supply of crude oil, a fossil fuel that formulates the cornerstone of gasoline. This video is fantastic if you ever wondered where and how gasoline is made…and wouldn’t you know it, it all started here in Texas.

Pretty much everything you wanted to know about gas right? Did you see that lab? It seemingly takes hundreds of people just to produce a single drop of gas for your car…no wonder it’s so expensive.

Follow The Gasoline Trail, Dallas Fort Worth

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Have you ever wondered how a drop of gasoline spends its “life” after being deposited into the gas tank of your vehicle? Well here’s a nostalgic film from  the 30’s that explains the route gas follows through your engine and how it generates power. Of course, fuel economy and technology has advanced greatly since then, but the fundamental principles are the same. Take a look:

Thought this was an old video, it did a great job of explaining to the public how their cars worked. Not that it was a mystery, but it was more of an attempt to teach people about their vehicles which in turn I’m sure was responsible for America’s love affair with the car. If you have any links to vintage car videos you’d like to share, just add them to the comments section below. Freeman Grapevine is always looking for fun and interesting car talk.

Fort Worth Buick, Watch This Old Buick Commercial

Buick, , ,

Every now and then, your Fort Worth Buick dealer, Freeman Grapevine gets a huge shipment of brand new, just off the line, Buick vehicles. It’s almost impossible not to be in awe of their gleaming beauty and newness. The funny thing is, even in the 50’s, Buick seemed to command respect as beautiful and well performing automobiles. America hung our hats on the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Buick car.

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

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJjihEGfAlQ&feature=relmfu

As you can see, Buick has had a long and illustrious history with the American driving public. It’s an American brand that has the heart and soul of American ingenuity, design and hard work. Come in and see what Buick has become at your Fort Worth Buick dealer, Freeman Grapevine. You may be surprised to  find out that everything you may have thought about Buick is so much more.

Do You Know How A Muffler Works?

Parts and Accessories, , , , ,

If you’ve ever heard a car engine running without a muffler, you probably feel that your ear drums are perforating. Well, folks, that’s not good for your Fort Worth Buick GMC. The muffler of your automobile place a vital role in cancelling out the obnoxious and unpleasant tones your engine makes.

So how does a muffler work? Inside a muffler, you’ll find a deceptively simple set of tubes with some holes in them. Think of these tubes and chambers as finely tuned as a musical instrument. What they do is reflect sound waves produced by the engine as to actually cancel each other out. Think about noise cancellation headphones, if you’ve ever tried a pair on, hey actual create a frequency that you can hear, but is designed in such a way to cover external noise.

Check out the video below for the ins and outs of muffler operation from the muffler kings at Flowmaster.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7q5okfxXMc

You’ll be able to tell if you have a hole or a bad muffler because it will be LOUD. It won’t sound like the finely tuned engine that it should. If you suspect that you have muffler issue, don’t hesitate to bring it to Freeman Grapevine and we’ll get that irritating and overwhelming noise under control.

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.

My Latest Experience With Dallas Fort Worth Driving

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It’s time for me to get up on my soapbox again and remind everyone that driving like an idiot…yes, an idiot…in your Dallas Fort Worth car, really gets my goat. Especially when that driving results in a hit and run which I witnessed. The other night I was driving home in the slow lane, probably going about 70, like everybody else. Traffic was light, but there were several vehicles around me in the various lanes. Suddenly, one of those “people” (you know who you are) in a big pickup truck came up doing at least 90. He tried to thread the needle, you know what I mean. Well, he didn’t “get ‘er done”. He slammed into a pickup truck in the middle lane, just in front of me. Burning rubber smell, sparks flying, both trucks swerving around. Luckily they both held it together. The truck that got hit got in the slow lane to exit, but amazingly enough the perpetrator truck showed no sign of slowing down or exiting. I pulled up next to the hit truck and saw a woman, shaken but OK, so I sped up and got next to the perp. I wrote down his license plate number. Eventually he exited. I got off the next exit and called the Lewisville PD. They thanked me, told me they were already on it and took my info.

The point of this whole thing is, people who weave in and out of traffic in cars, trucks or motorcycles are idiots and potential murderers and if you do it you are a bad person and there are no two ways about it. The highway is not a game. Your personal desire to go fast for whatever reason is a dangerous weakness you should address. You aren’t the only person on the road, and it is your responsibility to keep not just yourself safe, but also everyone else you come in contact with on the road.

This type of driving behavior is unacceptable. This was a case of hit an run, pure and simple. At your Dallas Fort Worth Buick GMC dealer, we take everyone’s safety very seriously. My rant is over, but if you’d like to leave one of your own in the comments section, feel free.

It’s OK, We All Have Electrical Issues

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Own a DFW car? At some point, whether you like it or not, you are going to have to have some electrical repair made. Things just wear out, and it’s not just the mechanical pieces of your car either.  Today’s cars are very complicated and are as much computers as they are vehicles. Freeman Grapevine has the knowledge to diagnose and fix any type of electrical issue.

The electrical systems in new cars have definitely made driving a lot easier over the decades. The seemingly endless innovations in electrical systems have helped us enjoy a more comfortable and easier drive. However,  problems can sometimes arise. Let’s cover some of the issues that you could face with your new vehicle’s electrical system:

Common Automobile Electrical System Problems Are :

Car’s Battery Is Dead – This is the most common problem…and most obvious. Check your battery by engaging your headlights and judge by the illumination.

No Power Stored in the Battery – When you turn the key, what do you hear? A little click? Does it sound like it want’s to turn over? It is possible that your car’s battery does not have ample power to crank the starter. You need a new battery.

Alternator is Not Working – A damaged or broken alternator could be the culprit. No alternator? No battery recharge. If your car suddenly start to lose “juice” while drive, you’ll know it could be your new car’s alternator.

Problem with Starter or Solenoid – Good parts gone bad parts. If it’s the starter, it won’t turn over. If you have Solenoid issues, you might find it harder to brake.

Battery Cables Might Be The Problem – A loose cable might be the root of the problem…give them a wiggle before you run out and buy a replacement.

Electrical Fuses – Check for any blown fuses in your fuse box. Also, feel around for any loose wires.

Cracks In Alternator Belt – Too much or too little tension, as well as cracks in the alternator belt cause trouble.

Ignition System Has Problems – You have a busted ignition switch. Give your mechanic a call.

Loose Spark Plugs – Loose or old plugs will certainly affect the operation of your vehicle. Are you loosing power as gears change? Does it lurch as if the gears aren’t engaging? It might be the internal combustion and the culprit is usually the plugs and cables.

Now these are just guidelines you can crosscheck with a Freeman Grapevine Service Consultant any issue you might have experienced. I you can talk with your mechanic about your new car logically by doing a little research, you help him help you even faster. Just give us a call, Freeman Grapevine, to set up an appointment.