Experience This Premier GM Fleet Event of the Year

 

Tips to Help Prevent Heat Related Breakdowns

Texas summers continue long past Labor Day, often lingering into October.  Long summers mean hot temperatures and after a while, hot temperatures can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s performance.  We’ve put together a list of tips to keep your vehicle running properly.

1. Check all vehicle fluids.  Hot temperatures can cause added strain on your car’s systems so be sure to check the oil, coolant, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and brake fluid in your car regularly to be sure they are at the proper levels.
2. Check your car’s temperature gauge. If the light comes on, or the thermometer enters the red zone, you should safely pull over. Driving even a short distance with an overheated engine can cause damage, and possibly lead to expensive repairs.  If you find yourself in this situation, wait for the engine to cool completely before driving. Do not try and cool the engine with water. A quick change in temperature can cause damage.
3. Do not remove the radiator cap (when the engine is hot). Doing so can cause hot steam and coolant to spray out, possibly causing injury. Wait for the engine to cool completely before adding coolant and water.
4. Check tire pressures. As the temperature fluctuates, so will the air in your tires. This can lead to possible problems if your tires become over or under-inflated.
5. Don’t forget about our Complimentary Pit Stop service.  We will happily check and top off your car’s under hood fluids and check your tire pressure on the service drive, anytime our service department is open.  Just pull up and let one of our attendants know you are here for a FREE Pit Stop.

These helpful tips together with regular vehicle maintenance from our Xpress Oil Change Plus center should help you avoid untimely heat related breakdowns.  Enjoy the rest of the summer.  Drive safe and stay cool! Give us a call at (512) 681-3046 when we can next be of service to you, your family or your business.

Vehicle Recalls. What Should I Do?

If you have owned a General Motors vehicle for any length of time, you most likely have received a Recall Notice from the manufacturer in addition to a phone call or postcard from the Customer Loyalty Center here at Don Hewlett Chevrolet.  A ‘Product Safety Recall’ can be issued for several things and should be taken care of at your earliest convenience. 

If you receive a recall notice, we ask that you:  

·         Simply call our Customer Loyalty Center during normal business hrs. (7-6 M-F, 7-1 Sat) at (512) 763-3555 and let our staff know you need to schedule a recall appointment.

·         When you call, please have the letter you received from GM in hand. We will need to know your (VIN) Vehicle Identification Number (this should be on the letter or you can find it on your vehicle insurance card), the Year/Make/Model of your vehicle and a good contact phone number along with your current email address.

·         Once we receive your call, our staff will guide you through the process of determining which recalls show to be active for your vehicle (all recalls are VIN specific).  They will verify parts availability and will work with you to set a convenient time to meet with a Service Advisor.

Auto manufacturers are required by law to provide the necessary recall repairs free of charge. They do this through their established franchise dealer network using factory original parts. In doing so, General Motors can better guarantee the quality, consistency, and efficiency of these needed repairs.

Most recall repairs can be completed quickly (under two hours). However, we do ask our customers to allow us a full day with their vehicles.  We do have a limited number of complimentary customer loaner vehicles available daily - by reservation only - but we try to save these for our guests with vehicles that will be staying overnight.  We also have two free full-time Customer Courtesy shuttles that are ready to take you to work, back to the house, or wherever you need to go within the North-Austin suburban corridor.  

We have found that when our customers follow the simple steps listed above the recall repair process goes smoothly. If you’d like more information from GM regarding the recalls specific to your vehicle, please click this link: https://my.gm.com/recalls

The technicians at Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick have performed thousands of recalls over the years and are trained to identify and repair the specific components involved.  We would like to thank our customers for continuing to put your trust in the Hewlett brand. Rest assured we are certainly proud to represent General Motors in this Central Texas area and stand ready to assist all current GM owners with their vehicle needs.