Tag Archives: freeman grapevine

The Best Road Trip You Will Ever Take

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freeman grapevine, texas road trips, dallas buick, dallas gmc, fort worth buick, fort worth gmc, texas wineries, see texas, go texan

I realized something today. I don’t write about taking road trips around Texas in your Buick, or GMC nearly enough. Maybe it’s because I don’t ever have the time to do so. Maybe it’s because…yeah…I just don’t have the time. There really is no other reason why everyone shouldn’t just jump in their GM cars, trucks and SUVs and do a little exploring one weekend.

I mean, have you ever taken the time to really think about what Texas has to offer? I mean really think about it. We have nearly every type of climate from tropical humidity on the Gulf Coast, to the cold plains in the panhandle during the winter months. We have forests to the east of Dallas and deserts out west. We have 2 Major League Baseball teams, two football teams, soccer and hockey. We have multiple state universities with campuses spanning the state. We have some of the largest and most culturally diverse cities in the nation. We have huge music and art festivals and thousands of amazing restaurants. We even have 24 wineries! (I’ll bet you weren’t aware of that!)

https://www.youtube.com/user/gotexantv

So, why don’t we get out of our comfort zone and take a few days to explore Texas? Too busy? That’s a bad excuse. Make time. You will be absolutely astounded at the history and majesty of this great state.

If you need me, I’ll be on this computer at Freeman Grapevine hopefully planning my own Texas road trip soon…all I have to do is make the time.

 

Have You Ever Thought About Driving With A Suspended License

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caught driving on suspended license, suspended license, freeman grapevine,Just for fun, I was looking up some Texas Driving Laws recently and came across something that I had never thought about: “What happens if you get caught driving with a suspended license?” Do you get arrested? Do you get ticketed? Both? Does it have to do with why you lost your license in the first place? (Side note: if you don’t know, you can also lose your license if you don’t pay child support.)

There are people out there who will chance it. They will disregard a court order, get in their car and go about their business hoping they don’t get pulled over for another violation.

I pulled this from mytexasdefenselawyer.com, so thanks guys for the information.

If you are convicted of knowingly driving with a suspended license, it is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a find up to $500. It is a Class B misdemeanor – up to six months in a county jail – if you have been previously convicted, or previously had your license suspended for DWI.

It is also a Class B offense not to surrender your license to the state upon demand after your suspension.

The Texas Transportation Code also allows for an additional license suspension the same length as the first. For example, if your license was suspended for six months, and you are convicted of driving during that suspension, your license will be suspended for another six months after the original period ends

But the real penalty for driving on a suspended driver’s license is the cost.

To begin with, it is very likely that the police will have your car towed from where you were stopped. You will be responsible for the towing fees, and for a daily storage fee at the tow yard until you pay the money and retrieve your car. This can run into the hundreds of dollars.

Then you also will pay:

  1. Criminal fines that can range up to $2,000, depending on the charge.
  2. A reinstatement fee of $100 and SR-22 insurance, which can be very expensive.
  3. A surcharge of $250 a year for three years.

This video is from California, so don’t take this as Texas State driving law, it’s just a further example of what can happen if you get caught driving on a suspended license.

I don’t know about you guys, but if you drive on a suspended license and get caught, well, all I can say is, “Good Luck” and “I hope you are independently wealthy”. Be smart. If you have suspended driver’s license, you are better off getting a ride from a friend, or family member, or just staying home altogether.

 

Can Your Steering Wheel Be Germ Hive

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The short answer is, of course, “Yes”.  Did anyone get FLU this year? The answer is probably also is, “Yes”. How did you get it? No doubt you wondered. I certainly did. It too forever to get over and I’m still wondering how I got it, though at this point, it makes no difference. There is a very good chance the I caught this, as well as colds and minor infections from my steering wheel. Yup, the good old steering wheel. Let me ask you a question? When was the last time you cleaned your steering wheel? A clean cloth and some alcohol will to the trick, but when was the last time you did that? Now you may think this is a  good idea, but I doubt you are running out to your car right now to clean it. When the realization of how filthy your steering wheel is…remember, every thing you touch you transmit to your steering wheel. You may wash your hands periodically, but I know you don’t disinfect your steering wheel. So, what’s the point other than we should wash your steering wheels? Why not avoid the hassle and get an anti-microbial steering wheel cover like the one in the video below.

I’m not going to argue that we all could take a little time to tidy up our cars on the inside. The fact of the mater is we all simply don’t clean our cars as thoroughly as we should. Sure, we vacuum from time to time, or rub some cleaning material we randomly chose at the grocery store and give our dashes a once over. It’s probably a good idea to start cleaning the interior of your car more often, especially during flu season. Clean that germ infested steering wheel.

Proper Spare Tire Maintenance

Maintenance and Service, , ,

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.

What Do You Do When The Check Engine Light Comes On?

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There is no doubt that if you are a car owner this has happened to you. The “check engine” light all of a sudden pops on. Why is it on in the first place? Your car seems to be performing fairly well and there’s nothing you can tell that is wrong. Well that check engine light is anything but just a pretty light, it can actually be a serious warning  That light is connected to many different alerts in your engine and your electrical system. Ignoring it could prove for some costly repairs. It might be something as simple as an a faulty gas cap or under-pressured spare, or as serious as an internal engine issue. You just don’t know and should have it checked out by your GM Mechanic as soon as you can.

I found this report that goes into further detail about why your check engine light may be on.

If your check engine light is on, the best and most prudent thing to do is to bring it into Freeman Grapevine so we can take a look at it and repair any issues you may be having. Remember, failing to properly maintain your Buick or GMC can result in some expensive repairs. Warning lights are there for a reason so don’t just ignore them, bring your car into a certified GM repair shop and get that problem fixed.

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.

Everyone Needs A Battery Charger

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Just because you have a dead battery, doesn’t mean you can’t get a few thousand more miles out of it. If you’ve never recharged your battery, then you’ve been throwing away money too soon. A battery drains for a myriad of reasons, including our own clumsiness (leaving lights on).  As we all can imagine, a dead battery on a cold day in not a fun thing to have, but with a decent battery charger, you can give a little extra life back to that “dead” battery.

How does a charger work? Check out the video.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEPuO8kZVE8&feature=player_embedded

How easy is it to use? This easy.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oSuz0T51Fs&feature=player_embedded

Now, you can’t recharge a battery an unlimited time. This is an indicator that you will eventually have to replace your battery. A battery charge cannot change the inevitable, just delay it for a while.

Bad Battery, or battery issues? I’d advise you take your car to your mechanic if your battery issues become problematic.

The Proper Way To Handle A Police Stop If You Have A Concealed Handgun License

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In Texas, we have the right to carry firearms concealed on our person with the proper concealed handgun license. If this applies to you, you are fully aware of your responsibility as a gun owner to alert the officer as soon as he makes verbal contact with you. This is for both your safety and the officer’s. I can tell you that if you are upfront, your simple moving violation will be far less complicated if you immediately tell the officer that your are licensed and that your are carrying.

Believe it, not I know many officers who respect an individual’s right to protect themselves and are, in fact, for lack of a better word, grateful that the citizen has taken some responsibility for his own safety. After all, the police only show up after a crime has been committed.

So what is the right procedure? You should have already learned this in your CHL class, but here is a reminder.

Of course, this scenario was set up to show you what can occur when you are pulled over and engage with the attending officer in regards to your firearm. Tell them you have it immediately! Chances are, they will be much more respectful of you and ease any additional tension the officer may have at the beginning of the stop.

Just a friendly reminder brought to you by Freeman Grapevine.

Never Get In Another Fender Bender Again

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Never get into another fender bender again! I mean it, you can virtually avoid road accidents by following 3 simple thoughts while you drive: Be Observant, Be Predictive, Be Reactionary.

Something I don’t think drivers put much thought into is understanding hazards actually happen. Have you ever dissected a driving hazard or a near-miss accident?. Can you observe, predict, and react in time enough to possibly avoid an accident altogether? You’ll notice that driving is a very active function and yet many of us seem to approach it like we’re headed out fro a drive in our lazy-boy.

Now this video was for examination purposes in Britain, but it bring up some very good points of note. Primarily the one we forget is the one we should remember the most and that is that driving is a very active thing to do. It’s not time to make phone calls, or text. Heck, it’s not even the time to relax! You should be observant, predictive and reactionary every time your get behind the wheel of your Buick or GMC.

How To Climb A Hill In The Snow

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It doesn’t snow here very often. In fact, this last Christmas was the first white Christmas since 1975 I think. However, here in North Texas, we do get hit with snow from time to time and that snowfall pretty much paralyzes the DFW area. So, do you know how to climb a hill in the snow in your Buick or GMC?

I was talking to a friend who had a real problem getting out of his driveway on Christmas Day due to the snow (ice is a completely different problem). His driveway is a moderate incline which is generally easy to negotiate, however, when you dump a little bit of snow on it, getting out can be a real task.

However, there is a trick from climbing hills in the snow. This trick is primarily for front whee cars as the physics of the vehicle require the tires to pull the car up a hill, and therein lies the trick…turn your front wheel drive Buick or GMC into a rear wheel drive car, truck or SUV by climbing the hill in reverse. Check out the video below so see an example of what I’m talking about.

By going up a snowy hill in reverse, you essentially are moving all of the weight of the car, including the engine, over the front drive tires effectively turning it into a pseudo-rear wheel drive vehicle by going in reverse.

Now, this is just a little tip from Freeman Grapevine. If you can avoid driving in the snow altogether, then that would be ideal. However, if you have to climb a hill in the snow to get to work, or for emergency reasons, try going in reverse. It’s a secret maneuver not many Texans know about.