Are you looking for a vehicle that is perfect for all of your adventures? Then look no further because the 2016 Ford Explorer is guaranteed to elevate your getaways! From the premium, Unique Cloth Bucket Seats with 10-way power driver seat w/power lumbar and recline to the Remote Keyless Entry w/Integrated Key Transmitter, to the 4 12V DC Power Outlets the all-new Explorer Platinum is designed to elevate the SUV experience well beyond your expectations. Need more room to do what you want? No problem, thanks to the 60/40 Folding Split-Bench Manual Reclining Rear Seats and the 50-50 Split-Bench Premium Cloth 3rd Row Seats.

Power is no problem when you get behind the wheel of the 2016 Ford Explorer. With the help of the standard 6 Cyl – 3.5 L, you’ll be equipped with enough power to go wherever you’re wandering heart desires. And with features like Automatic Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive, Electric Power-Assist Speed-Sensing Steering, Brake Assist,  and Hill Hold Control you can adventure confidently knowing that whether you take on the open road or rough terrain, your explorer can get you there.

It’s all fun and games until it comes to safety, that’s something your 2016 Ford Explorer takes seriously. We get it you’re only human mistakes happen, that’s why your Explore has got your back. Equipped with an arsenal of advanced safety technologies like Advancetrac w/Roll Stability Control, Terrain Management System, 911 Assist Emergency SOS, Rear Parking Sensors, and many more, you explore lets you worry less and explore more!

Staying connected has never been easier than it is when you slip into the 2016 Ford Explorer thanks to the infotainment system, SYNC®. With SYNC® take advantage of features like enhanced voice recognition communications and entertainment system, smart-charging USB port in the Media Hub,  4.2″ LCD screen in center stack, and AppLink.

So what are you waiting for? Stop into Carriage Traders today and test drive your new-to-you 2016 Ford Explorer. Come see for yourself why there is no better vehicle to explore your world with than the Explorer.

Here at Romeo, we pride ourselves on amazing customer service, but that wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for our amazing staff. From sales to service we are one hardworking family and we want you to feel like a part of our family when you’re here. We hope that you will take a second to learn a little bit more about our employees, new and old, in our Employee Spotlight. If you find someone you’d like to work with, come on in and ask for them directly, we are all eager to work with and help you get behind the wheel of your dream vehicle!

“I come from a family of 13; 8 sisters and 4 brothers and was raised on a 300-acre farm where we grew potatoes in Caribou, Maine. I drove a trailer truck cross-country for 10 years. I currently live in Hudson Falls and love gardening and spending time with my dog, Wiggles! I began in the car industry in 2008 and haven’t looked back. Helping my guests get the vehicle that best fits their wants and needs is my goal, always.”

The plan is always to keep your brand new vehicle looking brand new but it isn’t always that easy…or is it?! Caring for your paint job on your car is one of the best ways to keep your vehicle looking great all year round and help it keep that brand new vehicle look. Regularly washing and cleaning your vehicle, followed by drying, polishing, and waxing is a great way to add a protective coating over your vehicle’s paint to provide extra protection to the exterior.

Knowing when and at what point of the year each cleaning task should happen is important. It is also important to know that waxing too often can dull the finish of your vehicle due to excess wax. So try to keep track of when you waxed your vehicle previously so you don’t overdo it!

Part 1: Wash Your Vehicle

• Washing your vehicle regularly keeps dirt, debris, and gritty residue that can accumulate over time on your exterior.
• Start washing your vehicle from the top (the roof) down.  Use a soft-bristled brush, in small, circular motions, to remove more stubborn stains and grease. Use a microfiber cloth to clean less dirty areas.
• DO NOT USE REGULAR DISH SOAP.
• These substances are designed to remove grease and oil, and they can damage your car’s finish, not to mention strip away the vehicle’s protective wax coating.
• It is important to rinse your vehicle as you go to prevent the soap and water from drying on your vehicle.
• Try not to take too long while washing your car so that the water does not dry, leaving behind mineral deposits in the form of water spots.

Part 2: Drying Your Car

• Dry your vehicle by hand. Start drying as soon as your done with the basic wash. This keeps water from drying and leaving spots.
• Use a microfiber towel to absorb the water.
• DO NOT DRAG THE TOWEL ACROSS THE CAR.
• Debris and dirt can be trapped under the towel and potentially scratch the paint.
• Drying your car to remove the majority of the moisture, allow it to air dry completely before proceeding to the detailing phase.

Part 3: Detail Your Car

• Most often, basic washing does not remove smaller particles and substances that might stick to or are worked into the paint job itself.
• Items you may need include Compound, Clay bars, Glaze, and Polish.
• Before using any detailing method, make sure you understand how to use it properly.
• USE A MICROFIBER MITT OR TOWEL.
• Don’t forget to clean and shine your tires, which are one of the most overlooked areas of a vehicle. When doing so, clean, wash, and polish one tire at a time to prevent the cleaner from drying on the tires in patches.

Step 4: Wax Your Car

• After washing, drying, and detailing the outside of your vehicle, seal it with wax. You only need to wax your car about every three months, so this process is not required every time you wash your car.
• When using a buffer, be careful because overuse could lead to paint removal
• Apply wax – using a microfiber towel, or a clean buffing pad using the car buffer
• Allow the wax to set – Proceed with applying the wax a section at a time, allowing the wax to set before removal. Check the wax container for directions on use and recommended wax set times.
• Buff the wax in – Take a microfiber cloth and use circular motions with the buffer to rub in the wax. Repeat this process until you have waxed the entire surface of the vehicle

Keeping your vehicle’s paint job cleaned, detailed, and waxed maintains its shiny look for the year. This is a great way to help prevent the buildup of oxidation, which leads to your vehicle rusting. If you find that your vehicle does rust over time I suggest you seek help from a professional body shop like our paint and dent repair specialists at Carriage Traders Auto Repair!

Are you looking to service your vehicle, but you’re stressing because you don’t want to break the bank in the process? Then stop into Carriage Traders because we have a handful of AMAZING service coupons that are good till the end of September! With offers available for wheel alignment, oil changes, flushes and much more, you can SAVE BIG this month! Want to save more with us?! Check out what we are offering below and then stop into Carriage Traders today!

Wheel Alignment – $78.88!*

Conventional Oil Change – $19.95!*

Full Synthetic Oil Change – $44.95*

State Inspection – $5.00*

Transmission Fluid Flush – $189.95*

Brake Fluid Flush – $89.95*

A/C Recharge – $89.95*

Make Your Own Discount (If your bill is… you pay…):

• Spend $50-$100 SAVE $5*

• Spend $101-$200 SAVE $15*

• Spend $201-$400 SAVE $30*

• Spend $401-$600 SAVE $50*

• Spend $601-$800 SAVE $75*

• Spend $801 and up SAVE $5*

*Excludes tires and body shop repairs

ALL offers expire on 9/30/2018 and cannot be combined with other offers. Check out our Service Specials page to print your coupons out!

You might know the term “defensive driving” as a way to get a reduction on a speeding ticket, but it’s much more than that! Defensive driving is a term used for the driving techniques that a driver should have when behind the wheel. By following the actions below you will help reduce collisions, which will save more lives, time, and money!

Driving defensively includes:

• Looking ahead and expecting the unexpected.
• Controlling your speed.
• Maintaining a safe following distance.
• Preparedness for the reactions of other drivers.
• Driving safely for weather and/or road conditions.
• Being alert and distraction free.
• Watching and respecting other drivers.

I can admit I am not always the picture-perfect defensive driver. Sometimes I’m in a rush, or I just want to get home, sometimes other drivers make me want to pull my hair out, and sometimes we all get distracted. If you think that you might be like me sometimes it might be a good idea for you to check out the defensive driving course. Interested in what you might learn…

• Statistics related to traffic collisions
• How to overcome psychological roadblocks like anxiety, road rage, or drowsiness.
• The effects of alcohol and drugs on judgment and motor skills
• The importance of car safety equipment, such as seat belts, airbags, child safety seats, and headrests.
• The dynamics of a collision, including how factors like speed, point of impact, and vehicle size can impact the severity of a crash.
• Traffic laws in your county and state.

I know, you’re probably thinking why the heck would I want to pay for a course that I don’t want to sit through…Wasn’t that call the “five hours” and my “permit test’”? Yeah I get it safety isn’t always the most interesting, but it’s important! And there are some benefits to taking the course.

Benefits for taking the course:

• Improving your driving skills
• If you’ve received a traffic ticket, you can often score a reduction of points on your driver’s license when you successfully complete a safety class
• Driving school could help minimize an increase in your auto insurance premium
• Since insurance rates begin to creep up when drivers reach a certain age (usually around 50 or 55), older drivers who successfully complete a driving course may see their rates go down

So, before you write off taking the course you might some added benefit from taking the course! Oh, and you’ll be a better, safer, and smarter driver! Driving safe is important and keeping you safe is even more important. So check out the test or do some research yourself and become a better driver!

Are you in need of getting your car serviced? Well lucky for you we have service specials that will have you SAVING BIG and your wallet saying thank you! Here at carriage traders, we welcome people from all walks of life but we are located at 170 Saratoga Avenue, South Glens Falls, NY 12803 and service the South Glens Falls, Queensbury, Saratoga Springs, and Lake George, NY areas! If you live in these areas or are just passing through stop by at Carriage traders and let us serve you today!

Coupons we have available for you:

Wheel Alignment – $78.88*  Expires 08-31-18 Cannot be combined with other offers

Conventional Oil Change – $19.95*   Expires 08-31-18 Cannot be combined with other offers

Full Synthetic Oil Change – $44.95*  Expires 08-31-18 Cannot be combined with other offers

State Inspection – $5.00 Expires 08-31-18*  Expires 08-31-18 Cannot be combined with other offers

Transmission Fluid FLush – $189.95*   Expires 08-31-18 Cannot be combined with other offers

Brake Fluid FLush – $89.95*  Expires 08-31-18 Cannot be combined with other offers

A/C Recharge – $89.95*  Expires 08-31-18 Cannot be combined with other offers

• Make Your Own Discount*-  Expires 08-31-18 Cannot be combined with other offers

1. 1. If you spend $50-$100 you save $5.00
   2. If you spend $101-$200 you save $15.00
   3. If you spend $201-$400 you save $30.00
   4. If you spend $401-$600 you save $50.00
   5. If you spend $601-$800 you save $50.00
   6. If you spend $801-UP you save $100.00

If you have any questions feel free to give us a call at (518) 720-6263 and don’t forget to schedule an appointment with us through our website!

*All offers expire 08-31-18 and cannot be combined with other offers.

The summer is warming up but that doesn’t mean your car’s engine should be! Engine coolant is important to your engine’s function, it keeps it cool and protects it from overheating, and it protects your wallet from costly damages! It’s super important as a driver to know how to check the coolant level and what to do if it isn’t where it’s supposed to be!

When checking the coolant level in your vehicle, it must be cool! Coolant expands when hot so it will rise, giving you a false reading. So don’t check it right after getting home or really hot days!

Check your coolant level is actually very easy and can be done in just two quick steps…that means even I can do it so you definitely can!

Steps:

1. Open the hood of the car: First pop the hood lifting the latch inside your car, then when the hood pops it won’t crack the whole way. Slip your hand in between the crack and move the safety lever which unlocks the hood allowing you to lift it all the way.
   1. Locate the engine coolant reservoir. This will be to the far side of the vehicle, left or right, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. The lid to the reservoir will often have “Engine Coolant Only” printed on it.

*Look out for the line on the side of the engine coolant reservoir and a heading of “COLD” or “FULL”. There may also be a “WARM” level indicator. The “COLD” indicator is the one you want to use.*

1. Add engine coolant to the reservoir if the liquid is below the “COLD” indicator line. Observe to see that the engine coolant reservoir is holding the added liquid.

If it falls below the “COLD” indicator before your next check, there may be a leak. Any leak needs to be checked out and repaired as soon as possible!

Ahh, you’ve got the windows down, the music up, and you’re enjoying your ride home from work when you notice a pretty orange little on your dashboard, and no it’s not just a decoration, it’s the dreaded Check Engine Light! And there goes all the peace you had, and mass amounts of stress rolls in, like first off why me?! And then you think rational, and then you think oh my gosh how much is this going to cost me?? Take a big breath, then release, IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY! There can actually be a lot of reason your Check Engine Light might come on and they won’t all break the banks!

Reasons:

1. You need to replace your Oxygen Sensor:

• Your oxygen sensor measures the amount of unburned oxygen in your vehicle’s exhaust system.
• If you don’t replace it a hand full of things could happen
  • Your engine will burn more fuel than what needs to be, resulting in you spending more on gas
  • You will lose fuel economy, and get fewer miles per gallon
  • Faulty sensor(s) can cause damage to your spark plugs and catalytic converter, costing you more money!

2. Your gas cap is loose, missing, or damaged:

• Your gas cap seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. It also prevents gasoline fumes from being released into the atmosphere while you aren’t driving your car.
• If you don’t get this fixed you’ll find yourself heading to the gas tank more often due to your gas evaporating!

3. You have a bad catalytic converter:

• This helps protect the amount of air entering the engine to determine how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently
• If you don’t replace it a hand full of things could happen
  • Your car will fail an emissions test
  • You will experience poor fuel economy and performance
  • Your car could run at a higher temperature causing it to overheat

4. Time to replace your Mass AirFlow Sensor:

• This measures the amount of air entering the engine to determine how much fuel is needed to run the engine
• If you don’t resolve this problem you could experience these things:
  • Faulty sensors can cause damage to spark plugs, O2 sensors or catalytic converter
  • You will also experience reduced performance and fuel economy

5. Your Vehicle Needs New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires:

• These plugs ignite the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your car. The wires deliver the spark from the ignition to the spark plug
• If you don’t resolve these issues you could damage your car for the following reasons:
  • Worn plugs and plug wires can cause a clogged catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors
  • You will also experience poor performance and reduced fuel economy

There are several reasons why your Check Engine Light could be on, and they all vary in price. If you find that bright orange light is shining brightly on your dashboard you might want to get your car looked at. Once you’ve been told what the issue is, do your research and see if it might be something you could do yourself to save money, but if you can not make sure to service your car. Safety is the number one priority inside your car, make sure that the work is done correctly and by a professional, it will be worth it down the road!

It’s summertime and with hot temperatures comes high humidity, and with that comes some nasty thunderstorms. Although I totally love to watch thunderstorms, I hate driving in them and they can be very dangerous! Hydroplaning might sound awesome but is actually the complete opposite and by that I mean terrifying. So whether you’ve done it before and are wondering how to avoid it from happening again, or have never experienced it and never want to, you’ve come to the right place.

First off, for all of you who have no idea what hydroplaning is, it refers to the skidding or sliding of a car’s tires across a wet surface. Water pressure in the front of the wheel pushes water under the tire, and the tire is then separated from the road surface by a thin film of water and loses traction. The result is a loss of steering, braking, and power control.

So before you never drive in the rain again there are some things you can do to prevent hydroplaning from occurring

1. Keep your tires properly inflated
2. Rotate and replace tires when necessary
3. Slow down when roads are wet: the faster you drive, the harder it is for your tires to scatter the water
4. Stay away from puddles and standing water
5. Avoid driving in outer lanes where water tends to accumulate
6. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you
7. Turn off cruise control
8. Drive in a lower gear
9. Avoid hard braking
10. Try not to make sharp or quick turns

Hydroplaning can be a scary thing to encounter, but don’t stress out, remain calm, and try to steer the car into the correct direction, and remember the tips above to try and avoid hydroplaning at all!