Automotive BLOG | La Quinta Cadillac

Wheel alignments are considered routine services, yet they’re often overlooked until your service technicians requires them or the vehicle's performance is affected. What are they, and why are they so important? Wheel or tire alignments are a procedure where your vehicle’s suspension system is adjusted to where your tires make contact with the road.

Despite being called a wheel alignment, it is actually the suspension system that’s aligned. If your vehicle is in need of an alignment, your tires will wear out prematurely, and the vehicle may vibrate when you’re driving down the road. 

A tire blowout is one of the scariest things that you can encounter while you are on the road. The good news is that they can usually be avoided. Tire blowouts are most likely to occur between the months of May and October. An underinflated tire is one of the things that can cause your tires to blowout. You can ensure that your tire is properly inflated by checking the tire pressure once a month. Excessively worn tread is another thing that can cause a tire blowout.

You should check the tread of your tire when you check the tire…

After purchasing a vehicle from La Quinta Cadillac, you will understandably want to keep that vehicle looking its best, both on the inside and the outside. One of the best ways to keep the interior of the vehicle clean is using removable flooring to protect the vehicle's interiors. Customers in La Quinta choose both all-weather floor mats and carpet mats, but which is the best for you? 

Ultimately, it will depend upon your specific needs for the floor mats. 

To change a car's battery in a vehicle you purchased from La Quinta Cadillac in La Quinta, CA, you will need a few tools, including a wrench and petroleum jelly. You will first need to remove the battery by doing the following in the correct order:

There are many things that can go wrong while you are driving in the winter. One of the best things that you can do to prepare for a possible emergency is to have your winter kit available. Jumper cables are one of the things that you need to have in your kit. They will help you if your car battery goes dead. Make sure that you know how to use the jumper cables. LED flashlights are something else that you need to put in your winter kit. You should also put extra batteries in your kit.

 

As the new school year takes off in La Quinta, CA, and around Temecula, CA, it's time to ensure that your car is in tip-top condition. It's imperative this time of the year for the safety of everyone involved that your vehicle is operating at a peak level.

Roadside emergencies can happen anywhere, including in La Quinta. Do you know how to react if your car breaks down while you are on the road? The team at La Quinta Cadillac wants to help make sure you do.

If you suspect that your vehicle is breaking down, do not hesitate. Get off the road as far as you can. If you end up stuck in the middle of a lane - that is considered an emergency, and calling 911 is appropriate. Turn on your flashers and wait for help to arrive.

If you have made it to the shoulder, you…

As a vehicle owner in La Quinta you should be aware of common automotive leaks. Some leaks are very minor, while others require a major repair. La Quinta Cadillac wants you to be aware of signs of these common fluid leaks so that you can take the appropriate action.

When you notice a fluid leak under the hood, a pressurized hose is usually the culprit. Your power steering system or braking system may be leaking. The fluid color can vary but is often a pinkish or red color. A crack in a hose can send hydraulic fluid spraying upward toward…

If you get nervous whenever you have to drive in the rain, you're not alone. Hydroplaning is a very easy thing to do when there's lots of water on the road, and it can be a really scary experience. At La Quinta Cadillac, we want to help keep you and your passengers safer by giving you these tips to avoid hydroplaning.

First of all, avoid making any sharp or quick turns. When you quickly turn the wheels on your vehicle as you're moving in a certain direction, it's more likely that your vehicle is going to…

Cleaning an engine doesn't need to be difficult. At La Quinta Cadillac, we recommend that you clean your engine at least every year, or every time you notice it is getting dirty. If you keep up on your cleaning, you won't need more than an hour to have a sparkling engine.

The first step of cleaning an engine is to remove any plastic covers so you can clean them separately and disconnecting the battery. Taking off the negative terminal is enough. Then you cover the battery and electronic components with plastic so they won't get wet.