Winter Driving Tips | Prescott Brothers Mendota IL

Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. We want to remind motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather. 

We recommend the following winter driving tips:

• Avoid driving while you’re fatigued. Getting the proper amount of rest before taking on winter weather tasks reduces driving risks.
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Never mix radial tires with other tire types.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
• Always look and steer where you want to go.
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

Tips for long-distance winter trips:

• Watch weather reports prior to a long-distance drive or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
• Always make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition.
• Keep at least half a tank of gasoline in your vehicle at all times.
• Pack a cellular telephone plus blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in your vehicle.
• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk in a severe storm. It’s easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
• Don’t over exert yourself if you try to push or dig your vehicle out of the snow.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress. At night, keep the dome light on if possible. It only uses a small amount of electricity and will make it easier for rescuers to find you.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.
• Use whatever is available to insulate your body from the cold. This could include floor mats, newspapers or paper maps.
• If possible run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and to conserve gasoline.

Tips for driving in the snow:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

Original post can be viewed here.

The 2014 Dodge Dart GT Brings Big Luxury Technology to a Sporty, Powerful Package | Prescott Brothers Mendota IL

By Patrick Rall G+

While the modern Dodge Dart sedan was introduced with an obvious focus on fuel economy with a side of technology, the new Dart GT package focuses more on performance with a double side of technology – making for one impressively loaded compact sedan that is fun to drive, very comfortable and still fairly fuel efficient when driven reasonably.

At one point, driving an affordable and efficient compact Dodge sedan meant that you had to sacrifice on power and amenities – but the 2014 Dodge Dart GT proves that is no longer the case. The Dart GT also makes it very clear why more models get the 2.4L TigerShark engine as started for 2015.

My 2014 Dodge Dart GT test car carried a base price of $20,995 and when you add in the $1,250 for the automatic transmission, $495 for the advanced navigation system and the $995 destination fee, you get a price as tested of $23,735.

The Exterior
There really aren’t all that many differences in the exterior design across the various 2014 Dodge Dart trimlines, but the Dart GT does have some features that give it a little sportier look than the other models.

Up front, the Dodge Dart GT gets a gloss black treatment to the grille, the grille surround, the headlights, the body trim between the headlights and the grille, the middle portion of the front fascia and around the projection fog lights. Like all new Dart sedans, the GT model has a naturally aggressive, almost angry look just from its basic design, but the blacked out front end really bolsters that sporty theme of the package.

Along the sides, the 2014 Dodge Dart GT wears package specific 18 inch wheels wrapped in performance tires and out back, the subtle chrome GT badge is joined by a blacked lower fascia that wraps around the dual bright polished exhaust tips. The back end also has the beautiful racetrack taillight design that I absolutely love.

The GT package doesn’t bring a long list of exterior features that differentiate it from the rest of the Dodge Dart lineup, but it has enough unique features to give this compact sedan the sporty look and feel that is becoming so popular in this segment.

 The Interior

While the Dodge Dart GT is designed to be a performance model of sorts, it is also a top of the line model with the most features within the model line. This includes gadgets like projection lights and the racetrack taillight on the outside, but the inside is where the GT really shines – even when it is sitting still. 

When you open the driver’s door of the 2014 Dart GT, you are greeted by a driver’s seat that is wrapped in soft black leather with a red accents on the bolsters and in the stitching. The black from the seats extends through the entire cabin, from the carpet to the dash to the door panels to the headliner with more red stitching on the center console and more red trim on the front door grab handles and around the large gloss black information panel on the dash. The front seats look great, but they also feel great with just enough mix of support and cushion for your back and bottom while the cabin of the Dart provides tons of space in every direction. The same is true of the front passenger seat and while the rear seats offer a little less leg room and knee room than the front seats, there is still a remarkable amount of space for everyone seated in the new Dart.

The 2014 Dodge Dart GT is the most powerful option in the lineup and with a sport tuned suspension mated to 18 inch all season performance tires, the GT package is also the best handling of the 2014 Dart lineup. This suspension setup is stiffer and noticeably so, but that slight reduction in ride smoothness relative to other Dart models is negligible in comparison to the improved in handling feel. Mind you, there is still room for improvement (you know, like an SRT4 model) with far more aggressive tuning that would yield far greater handling and a far more aggressive stance, but with a far stiffer ride. For those folks who want a gentle mix of ride quality and sport suspension stiffness, the GT package hits that nail squarely on the head. Whether you are zipping around curvy secluded roads or soaring along a gradually twisting highway, the Dart GT handles as well as any non-high performance model in the compact sedan segment. When you add in the power of the 2.4L engine, the Dart GT is very easily the best driver’s car in the Dodge compact lineup.

Five Habits that will ruin your vehicle | Prescott Brothers Mendota, IL

Avoiding these habits can go a long way in preventing an expensive repair bill.

Most things you own will last longer if you take care of them and treat them well. Your car is no exception to this rule. While neglecting your car may seem harmless in the short term, regular neglect and mistreatment will add up and will reduce your car’s lifespan. To keep your car running longer and stronger, avoid these five harmful habits.

1. Delaying regular maintenance

Regularly maintaining your car is vital to your car’s longevity. Regular maintenance includes oil and filter replacement, as well as transmission fluid, air filter and brake pad care. Every vehicle manufacturer specifies a different maintenance routine, which can be found in your owner’s manual. While regular maintenance requires you to invest some time and money, it’s peanuts compared to the cost of a new engine or transmission.

2. Ignoring dash warning lights

When a warning indicator lights up on your dash panel, it’s important to address the problem immediately. If you don’t know what the light means, check your owner’s manual or call your mechanic. Dash warning lights can alert you to some very serious problems, such as a coolant leak, which can cause your engine to overheat. A simple preventative repair can often prevent a large problem down the line.

3. Shifting while moving

The transmission is one of the most complex and expensive parts in your car and it’s important to use is as it was intended. Be careful not to shift from drive to reverse or vice versa while the car is still moving. This “jerky” shifting places excess strain on the transmission’s internal gears and can instantly destroy it.

4. Jerky driving

We all know someone who accelerates wildly on every straightaway only to brake hard at a traffic light or stop sign. This type of driving won’t destroy your car immediately, but will cause your engine, transmission and brake system to deteriorate much more quickly than intended. Cars that have been abused will have premature fluid leaks, broken seals and mechanical problems.

5. Putting off tire replacement

Tires for some cars can be expensive, so replacing them is an unwelcome cost. Driving on bald tires is very risky, however. If a tire blows out while you’re driving, you can lose control of your vehicle and have a serious accident. And if you drive with bald tires in the rain, the risk of hydroplaning goes up tremendously. A new set of tires may seem pricey, but probably costs less than your car, and even less than your insurance deductible.

The Jeep® Brand Vehicles Your Grandparents Used to Drive | Prescott Brothers Mendota IL

 If you’ve been around Jeep® brand vehicles since before you could drive, there’s a good chance your love for the brand was passed down through your family by your grandparents. Or maybe you are a grandparent who can still remember the first time you drove a Jeep brand vehicle many years ago.

We’ve put together a list of fun facts about some of the Jeep brand vehicles your grandparents (or you) may have been familiar with.

1. The Jeep Willys Quad Prototype was released in 1940. From the outset, the vehicle was designed for military purposes. The U.S. army specifically requested a four-wheel drive, front-driven axel unit, and the Jeep Willys Quad Prototype was the result that would change history.



2. The first Jeep brand vehicle made for everyday use was the CJ-2A. “CJ” stood for “Civilian Jeep,” and it was the first Jeep brand vehicle to feature a seven-slot grille.



3. The 1950s Jeep Willys Pickup Truck featured a new V-shaped grille with horizontal bars across the front.



4. The CJ-4M existed as a prototype model in 1951. It became the link between the military-specific vehicle and the CJ-3M.




5. One of the most notable Jeep brand vehicles that came to be in the 1950s was the CJ-5. In production for almost 30 years, this vehicle stayed relatively the same throughout its duration on the market.



Did your grandparents get you involved in the Jeep brand family? Or are you a grandparent who has passed the love of the brand on to your kids and grandkids? We want to hear your stories. Post them in the comments section below!

Your Piece of Jeep® Brand History

Posted on March 31st, 2014 2:04 pm by Jeep in Heritage

Heritage has always been critical to the Jeep_® brand. We know that it’s important to remember where we came from and honor our roots. Today, we want to take the time to recognize your Jeep brand vehicle and where it fits into our expansive past.
You can now visit our Your Piece of Jeep Brand History page and upload photos of your Jeep brand vehicle. While you’re there, take some time to browse other users’ submissions and appreciate the evolution of your favorite vehicles.
Whether you drive a 2014 Jeep Cherokee or own a restored CJ-2A, your vehicle and your adventures are what make the Jeep brand so unique. The miles you and your vehicle put both on-and-off-road take our Go Anywhere, Do Anything® motto to the next level.
So go ahead. Show off your best adventures and let us know how your Jeep brand vehicle has added to our rich history. We always love to hear the stories behind the photos. Tell us about your most memorable exploits in the comments section below!

How Does A HEMI Engine Work?

What is a HEMI Engine?

Even if you’re not familiar with engine types, by now you’ve more than likely heard of a HEMI. Remember the old commercials where someone would ask, “Hey does that thing have a HEMI?”, or at the very least you may have noticed the silver letters on the side of a vehicle you were next to at a red light that read HEMI.

Lately there has been a lot of talk about the HEMI engine primarily because of the Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcats, but you may be wondering what a HEMI engine is, and we are here to explain what it is, and how it works.

HEMIs have a reputation of being big, strong, powerful engines which are the primary characteristics of trucks and muscle cars. Looking back to 1948, the HEMI was created, and in 1951 it was able to produce 180-horsepower which was shockingly powerful for this time period. As the years went on, Chrysler tweaked, modified, and increased the size of their almighty engine.

It wasn’t until 1964 that its popularity spread like wildfire when the 7L 426-cu.in. version took first, second, and third place in the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. At this point, the street version could crank out 425-horsepower, but what made this amount of power possible?

What’s unique about a HEMI engine, and what gave it its name, is the combustion chamber on top of the engine that is hemispherically shaped. Going back in time again to the 50’s when most of the cars used a “flat head,” it was entirely different to see Chrysler create an engine with “hemispherical heads.”

A flat head engine is cheaper, and easier to manufacture (used in most lawnmowers actually) because the valves are on the engine block, and open in a chamber next to the piston compared to the HEMI head where the spark plug is on top of the combustion chamber so the valves open up on separate sides of the chamber.

Without becoming overly complicated, this is one of the primary differences, that and the smaller surface area helps the HEMI keep fuel warm which in turn creates more pressure in the cylinder. The bigger the valves, the greater the airflow which is crucial for horsepower.

Fast forward back to present time to where Dodge now has the legendary 6.2L HEMI V8 that is the creator of the 2015 Challenger Hellcat’s roar.