How To Jump Start Your Car

One of the most anticipated moments in a teen's life is the purchase of their first car. As a parent, you're on the fence between coddling them safely and letting them freely embrace this step into adulthood. To help ease the transition and ensure your teen is well informed about the responsibilities and expectations of owning a car, check out these five tips for your teen driver. Consider Your Needs What need does the car serve? Your teen's needs will determine the type of car they purchase and can make the difference between a spacious gas guzzler and a small economy car. Is the car needed for school, work, or both? Do you live in an area with good public transportation or a rural area with limited transportation options? Do you need a car to carry your athletic equipment or food deliveries? Is there adequate parking in your neighborhood and places you visit? Answering these questions can help your teen choose a vehicle that not only meets their needs but also works with the limitations and circumstances in their environment. more Review Your Finances In addition to the initial cost of the car, there are regular costs associated with owning a car, including gas, tolls and parking fees, car loan payments, and insurance. It's important that your teen is aware and prepared for these expenses. How much can your teen afford to spend? Will you be assisting with some of the costs? Keep Safety at the Forefront While image is everything for your teen, safety is paramount. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides important information on driving safety for your teenage driver.  Encourage your teen to explore the safety features of the vehicles of choice, making sure the car has airbags, anti-lock brakes, and other safety features. Conduct Adequate Research With your needs, finances, and safety requirements in mind, your teen is ready to conduct some research to locate the most suitable car. There is a wealth of information available online via various car review sites, such as car manufacturer websites, and Goldstein Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM’s Model Research Page. Research gives your teen the ability to see all the information up front before visiting the dealership or seller. Test Drive and Inspect the Vehicle Before Purchase To really get a feel for a vehicle, your teen should take it for a test drive. Use the vehicle in conditions that you normally do, such as driving on the highway from work to home, taking that sharp curve on the shortcut to school. As with any vehicle, your teen should check it over thoroughly before buying. This can be done via a pre-inspection from the dealership, a Carfax check, or through an ASE-certified mechanic that you trust. Looking for a new, used, or certified pre-owned Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, or Ram vehicle for your teen in the Albany area? Goldstein CDJR in Latham, New York, has you covered with a full-service dealership including a large inventory, on-site service center, and financing options available.

Winter driving brings plenty of challenges, but perhaps the most difficult to deal with is driving on ice. If freezing rain is in the forecast, your best bet is to stay home and wait for the roads to clear. However, if you have to head out, follow these tips to safely drive in icy conditions. more Understanding Black Ice Contrary to its name, black ice isn't actually black. It forms when a thin layer of ice contains very few air bubbles, making it completely transparent. Because the ice is transparent, it takes on whatever color is under it. In the case of a road, it looks black like the asphalt and is nearly impossible to see. Because black ice is practically invisible, it's very dangerous on the road. Black ice tends to form in the evening and the morning. If you see a patch of roadway ahead of you that looks shiny while the rest of the road looks dull, it could be black ice. Slow Down If temperatures are around freezing, you know there's a chance for ice. Therefore, you should always reduce your speed. If you're sliding or fishtailing, you're driving too fast for the conditions. If you find yourself driving on black ice, take your foot off the accelerator and don't hit the brakes or make any sudden movements. The idea is to keep the steering wheel straight and let the car travel over the ice. Black ice is usually patchy, so you'll likely hit clear pavement in just a few feet. Steer Into the Slide If you're on ice and feel the back end of your car starting to slide, use the steering wheel to gently turn the same direction of the slide. It also helps to focus your eyes on where you want the vehicle to go and point the steering wheel in that direction. If you try to steer against the slide, you could end up overcorrecting and spin out. Use Caution Approaching Bridges and Overpasses You likely see the signs warning you about ice forming on the bridge, and if you're driving when it's at or below freezing, you need to take those warnings seriously. Bridges and overpasses have air on all sides and no way to trap heat, which makes them freeze more quickly than the road. If you're approaching a bridge or overpass and it looks wet, that might actually be ice on the surface. Give Yourself More Following Time When roads are dry, driving experts recommend leaving three to four seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you. However, when you're driving in snowy and icy conditions, you should increase your following distance to eight to 10 seconds. This increase will give you the longer distance you need to react or come to a stop safely. If you need to head out on the road during icy conditions, follow these tips to know how to spot warning signs of ice and how to drive safely over it. Pick the right vehicle You might think that All Wheel Drive will help in winter weather - and you’re right! All Wheel Drive can also help you navigate roads with snow after the plow went through. Remember, All Wheel Drive is an assistant, and should be used along with your safe, responsible driving and common sense. Shop for A ll Wheel Drive vehicles here.

Driving in the winter offers a unique set of challenges. As the fall season comes to an end and the first hint of snowflakes are in the air, you need to take the opportunity to make sure your vehicle is ready for winter driving by considering the following tips. more Check Your Tires Having the right tires on your vehicle can give you a huge advantage when you're dealing with snowy or icy roads. If you have all-season tires on your vehicle, check the pressure in each tire to make sure it's at the level recommended in your vehicle's manual. You should also take a moment to check the tread on your tires. Simply stick a penny in the tire's tread with Lincoln's head pointing down. If you can see all of his head, the tread is too low and you need to replace the tire. Change Your Windshield Washer Fluid If you try to use summer blend windshield washer fluid during the winter, you might end up making an even bigger mess on your windshield since it can freeze as soon as it hits. Instead, switch to a winter blend windshield washer fluid at the end of fall. This fluid can stand up to the freezing temperatures of winter and even comes with a special de-icer ingredient that helps loosen snow and ice from your windshield. Replace Your Wiper Blades Along with switching your windshield washer fluid, you should also consider changing your wiper blades so you start the winter with a fresh set. If your car sits outside in the sun during summer, the heat can break down the rubber on the blades. The last thing you want when you're driving through snow is a set of wipers that can't clear the windshield. Look for winter wiper blades that have a protective rubber shell that helps the blade stay clean of ice and snow. Check Your Battery Cold mornings are hard on your battery, and having one that's close to its expiration date can leave you stranded if it doesn't want to start when the temperature dips below freezing. Only professional equipment can tell you if your battery is weak, but you can give it a visual inspection and look for cracks or breaks in the battery cables or loose terminals. While you're inspecting the battery, check its manufacture date. If it's close to four years old, it's time to consider replacing it with a new one. Pack an Emergency Car Kit The last step you want to take to prepare your vehicle for winter is to pack an emergency car kit. This should include a first aid kit, blanket, gloves, hat, small shovel, kitty litter or sand for traction, road flares, flashlight, ice scraper, and snacks. You can put everything in a large plastic container and keep it in your trunk in case you need it when you're on the road. Pick the right vehicle You might think that All Wheel Drive will help in winter weather - and you’re right! All Wheel Drive can also help you navigate roads with snow after the plow went through. Remember, All Wheel Drive is an assistant, and should be used along with your safe, responsible driving and common sense. Shop for all wheel drive vehicles here. Make sure your vehicle is ready to take on snowy roads by following these steps to prepare it for winter driving.