Your How-to Guide for Changing a Flat Tire

Flat tires seem to happen at the worst possible times. They are obnoxious, but with the right tools and method, you can fix a flat tire on your own and be on your way again. Read our how-to guide for changing a flat tire:

1. Be prepared. For on the road emergencies, your car should be supplied with a jack, a lug wrench, a fully inflated spare tire, and your vehicle owner’s manual. These tools, along with other essential car emergency items like a flashlight, gloves, a poncho, and a snow shovel, will be essential and will prevent an emergency situation from ruining the rest of your day. As another preventative measure, ensure that your tires (including the spare) are properly inflated at the right air pressure. Check tire pressure once a month and before you go on long trips with heavy hauls.

2. Secure your working area. Turn your hazard lights on as well as any additional reflective and flashing emergency lights to warn drivers of your presence. Don’t park on any curves or inclines. Don’t park on dirt, sand, or grass as your jack could become unstable in the soft ground. Turn on the parking brake as well as the emergency brake to prevent rolling, and stick a wedge (wood, a brick, or a large stone) beneath your tires to ensure your safety. If desired, you can take out your floor mat and kneel on the clean side as you work.

3. Use the sharp end of the lug wrench to remove the hubcap. Set it upside down on the ground to contain your lug nuts. Consult your owner’s manual throughout for reference.

4. Loosen the lug nuts prior to jacking up your car. This will make it easier to loosen the lug nuts than it would be while the wheels are spinning. Loosen the lug nuts to about ½ a turn without removing them completely.

5. Now is the time to place your jack. Place the jack under a solid piece of the car’s framework, not under the floorboards. It is likely that your car and owner’s manual have reference points for you to use.

6. Lift your vehicle off the ground with the jack. Lift the car so that the tire is only a few inches off the ground. Make sure the car is secure enough so that you can start working.

7. Unscrew the lug nuts and place them in the hubcap so that you won’t lose them. Remove the tire, gripping by the treads, and place it on its side so it doesn’t roll away.

8. Place your spare tire into the wheel well. Take note that many cars come with compact spare tires that are much smaller and need to be replaced shortly. Align it with the wheel bolts and add your lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts by hand as much as possible.

9. Lower your car. Once on the ground, tighten the lug nuts to fully secure and prevent your tire from slipping off in the road, double checking your work. Replace the hubcaps onto your tire. Return all tools and emergency lights to your car.

Learning to change a flat car tire is an essential skill that is much easier than it looks. Learn other essential car maintenance skills as well as more vehicle information at Kuehn Motors.  

Care for Your Vehicle Year Round

With every season change, it is common to perform different maintenance checks  to keep your house running well. You clean and store away your patio furniture in the fall. You check the fireplace to make sure it runs for cold winter nights. You spring clean and declutter your home to start anew in the spring. What steps can you take to take care of your vehicle so it runs just as well as your home year round? Stay on top of general and seasonal maintenance with the following tips:

General Care

Perform regularly scheduled maintenance and lubrication checks using the manufacturer's recommended care. No single step will help your engine last year-round more than regular oil and filter changes. Change out and refill all other fluids that are necessary with the recommended type and viscosity. Flush the cooling system and change coolant once a year to prevent corrosion and residue from building up. To keep the exterior surface of your car in good shape, wash it regularly and apply a coat of wax every six months. Inspect and clean your tires, brakes, and wheel bearings to prevent any potential damage. To protect the interior, keep your car free of excess trash and dust.  Considering keeping a trash bag and quick wipes to clean spills immediately. Wipe and vacuum down your seats and mats to keep your car clean and smelling nice. For specific part-by-part care, check out the Car Bible.

Image courtesy of Bob n Renee on Flickr

Seasonal Care

If you live in an area with extreme seasonal differences like the Midwest, you understand that both summer and winter can wreak havoc on your vehicle. As a car owner, you understand that your car needs different care depending on the season.

For spring and summer care, start by fixing all the damage the winter season has done to your car. Get a detailed car wash and wax to prevent rust and body damage. This will loosen any gunk that has accumulated on your car throughout the winter, both cleaning the underside of your car and possibly revealing any potential problems that escaped your attention through the season. If you have seasonal tire sets, switch back to your summer set for better fuel efficiency and a smoother journey.

To prepare for the deep heat of summer, service your air conditioning and perform a coolant check to protect your engine from heat. Remember, heat can do as much damage to a battery as frigid temps can. Check for signs that your battery needs to be looked over, like a bulging or cracked battery case or corrosion buildup on wire connections. Lastly, change your air filter. No doubt it has clogged up with various leaf and plant debris, dirt, sludge, and road salt. A dirty air filter will diminish the productivity of your car and lower your fuel efficiency by as much as 10%.

For autumn and winter months, you want to prepare your vehicle to handle snow, ice, and extreme temperatures. The quality of your tires and battery are especially essential this season. Switch to your winter tire set for better traction and check to see that your battery is up to quality. Check that your heating system and oil filter are running smoothly and that all of your fluid levels are sufficient. Especially important, check your brake system, shocks, and struts, and replace them sooner rather than later because you certainly don’t want to be stranded in a snowbank.

Much of your yearly and seasonal car maintenance is to keep your car running well for whatever trip or journey you choose to embark on, but regular car maintenance and care can prevent dangerous accidents and save you thousands of dollars in damage repair. Nothing will let you enjoy a last-minute road trip more than being able to set off in a beautiful, well-maintained car.

Tips for National Car Care Month from Kuehn Motor Company

Winter is hard on everyone, but after months of snow, ice and salt, it’s especially hard on your vehicle! Just because the elements are gone, doesn’t mean you don’t have to take preventative measures with your car to keep it in excellent shape. April is National Car Care Month and it’s the perfect time for a reminder about the upkeep of your vehicle!

Tires - Without your tires, you’ll be going nowhere! Some people forget to remove their winter tires after the snow is gone. If you don’t, the winter tires can compromise stopping performance and wear out much quicker than all-season tires. You also want to check the wear of your tread because potholes can wreck havoc on your vehicle’s suspension. Make sure the tread is even and that there’s enough to prevent hydroplaning in the wet conditions spring brings. Although this is something you should do often, it bodes as a good reminder to check your tire pressure frequently. Keeping them properly inflated will help combat the summer heat that is sure to come.

Exterior/Interior - Giving your vehicle a good clean isn’t only great for aesthetics, but it prolongs the life of the car. Over the winter, your vehicle probably accumulated some of the road salt used to de-ice the roads and this can be damaging to the exterior- especially the undercarriage. Make sure to vacuum out the interior of your vehicle to reduce seasonal allergies that could be brought on by mud, slush and snow that are tracked in throughout the winter. If you don’t have time to give your car a good cleaning, you can always have it detailed at a service location near you.

Fluids - Your vehicle works harder during the winter than any other season -- especially during a Minnesota winter! Because of this, your vehicle also needs refills on fluids more often. Check the levels and fill them up as needed to make sure your vehicle keeps running smoothly for years to come. Not sure what to look for? The top fluids to check are: engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid and power steering fluid.

By performing these simple maintenance tasks, you can keep your vehicle running reliably and avoid future pains. If you hear any grinding, chattering or other noises coming from your vehicle while doing these, make sure to stop by one of our convenient service locations so we can make sure there are no issues. Winter is finally over and spring has arrived; it’s time to hit the open road and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Spring Cleaning For Your Car

Spring is in the air! While it doesn’t feel like spring yet, it is never a bad time to give your car’s interior a little “spring cleaning”.  After the long winter, your car will thank you.  Follow these tips to ensure you give your car the cleaning it deserves:

Get the trash out. To start off your cleaning, grab a trash bag and throw out all trash and unnecessary items you don’t need anymore.  Simply removing the extra clutter in your car will make a world of difference in your car’s appearance. Now, you have a better idea of where the

real work needs to be done.

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Grab your vacuum hose, and get to work.  Make sure to vacuum out underneath floor mats and in the creases.  You’ll be amazed at how much dirt and debris finds their way into the small crevices of your vehicle!

Scrub away. Go to your local automotive store or supermarket and buy a bottle of automotive upholstery and carpet cleaner and heavy duty scrubbing brush.  Wipe down the carpet and anything cloth covered.  You may need to repeat this step a few times to make sure everything is cleaned well.

The floormats want your attention too! Since you will need to take out the floor mats to vaccuum, give them a good wash, too.  Since they are removable, floor mats are much simpler to clean than the upholstery of your car. Use a garden hose to spray away dirt and debris, or your bathtub (in case it is still a bit too cold for outdoor water.)

Wash the windows. When cleaning the inside of your windows, make sure to use a cleaner specially intended for car windows. Using a home cleaner that contains ammonia will increase fog on your windshield.  After cleaning the insides of your windows, you will notice how much less your windows will fog up when driving.

And to finish up….While you’re cleaning up, its always good to check up on other important areas of your vehicle, such as oil level, tire pressure, and washer fluid levels. After completing all of these tasks, you might just feel like you have a brand new car!

You Might Be Ready For Winter, But Is Your Car?

In Minnesota, there’s no telling when winter will hit. By September, we’ve already stocked up on boots, winter jackets, mittens and hats -- just in case. You feel ready and prepared for the cold, snowy season to arrive, but is your car ready?

Just like winterizing your house and throwing on an extra layer before you leave for work in the morning, your car needs winterizing, too. There’s no avoiding the winter, so the sooner you prepare for it, the more comfortable you’ll feel when the first snowflakes hit the ground.

Here are some tips on how to get your car ready for winter! 

Make sure you have enough antifreeze: If you run low on coolant, that water in your radiator can freeze, which prevents it from flowing freely and cooling the engine. If this happens, your engine can overheat, despite the cold temperatures outside.

Make sure your tires have adequate tread: If the treads are worn on your tires, replace them. Or, better yet, invest in a set of snow tires. Snow tires have better traction in snowy weather and are equipped to better handle treacherous winter driving.

Check your wiper blades: It’s a good idea to get a set of winter wiper blades. These cut through snow and ice better to keep your view of the road clear and unobstructed.

Get a pre-winter tune up: Bring your car into Kuehn Motors for an inspection before winter comes. We can check the battery, antifreeze level, thermostat, heater, brakes and defroster to make sure all systems are functioning properly.

Get a good wash and wax: Rinsing off the road salt throughout the winter can protect the paint on your car, but go the extra mile and get a good wash and wax before the elements hit to better protect the appearance of your car!

If you follow these tips, you’ll be in good shape -- even when there’s 11 inches of fresh powder on the ground.