Winter Is Coming: Get Your Vehicle Ready!

The weather is starting to get a little cooler and colder days are coming, Liberty Buick GMC wants to be sure you are prepared for frigid mornings and snow days. Getting ready for winter means getting your vehicle should be geared up for the cold. Everything from new tires to snow packages and heated seats. Whether you are looking for a brand new vehicle to help you make it through the cold or just looking to prep your current ride, Liberty Buick GMC is here to help. Here is your winter servicing checklist:

1.       Tire Prep

Before winter rolls in, it is a good idea to get your tires checked. If anything needs be fixed, repaired, or replaced this is the time of year to get everything checked out and ready for the winter weather. Liberty Buick GMC has the best Certified Service Technicians to handle all of your tire needs. You can also browse through the Tire Finder Tool online to start your tire search. Maintaining your tires to keep them in quality shape can be challenging with wheel alignment and balance, tire pressure, tire rotation, and wear and tear. Tires require a lot of work and care to keep them it top condition.

a.       Wheel Alignment and Balance

To help prolong your tire’s lifespan it is essential to keep your wheels aligned. When wheels become unaligned it can cause uneven wear to your tire and even cause bearing, shock, and suspension problems. If your vehicle is pulling to one side or your tires are showing uneven wear, then it is a good idea to have your tires realigned.

b.      Tire Pressure

Tire pressure is constantly changing as the weather changes. For every temperature change of 10 degrees Fahrenheit, tire pressure changes about 1 psi. In the summer the pressure is higher and in the winter pressure is lower. To ensure your tires are at the correct PSI, it is a good idea to check the pressure at least once a month.

c.       Tire Rotation

To extend the life of your tires and improve performance it is always important to rotate your tires. Tire rotations are done to help make wear and tear even on all tires. Each tire works differently causing them to wear at a different pace. To help prevent uneven wear and increase the lifespan of your tires, tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles.

2.       Vehicle Inspection

Car inspections are always a good idea to be sure you abide by the law, ensure your safety, and compile with registration regulations in North Carolina. For your safety, it is important that all the bolts and screws on your vehicle are secure. Liberty Buick GMC is a Certified Inspection Station and a great place to take your vehicle for Vehicle Safety Inspections and Emissions Inspections. We take the extra step when it comes to vehicle inspections to ensure your safety. A vehicle inspection at Liberty Buick GMC checks:

·         Tires

·         Foot and Parking Brakes

·         Directional Lights

·         Engine Lights

·         Steering

·         Suspension Components

·         Wiper Blades

3.       Oil Change

Before winter rolls in, it is important to check your oil. The first step is checking your oil to make sure the correct amount is in your vehicle for proper use. An oil leak or low oil can cause your vehicle to run differently and often cause issue in your car. It is also important to have your oil changed every so often, depending on your vehicle and the type of oil you vehicle requires. Most cars require an oil change every 7,500 to 10,000 miles to adapt to the normal service schedule but some older vehicles may need oil changes as often as every 3,000 miles. On the other hand, newer vehicles may allow you to go for 15,000 miles before needing an oil change. Liberty Buick GMC has Certified Technicians that preform oil changes. Buick’s newer vehicles have a special Oil Life System that senses your car’s speed, engine temperature, and monitors operating conditions to help determine the best time for an oil change.  

4.       Check the Antifreeze

Antifreeze is one of the top vehicle concerns during the winter months. To prepare for winter it is a good idea to check the antifreeze level in your vehicle. To properly keep your vehicle from freezing, your engine cooling system should be filled with 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and distilled water. To keep your vehicle operating properly and most effectively it is recommended that you follow the manufacturer’s guide for changing the antifreeze. Liberty Buick GMC has the best technicians around that are pros at changing and checking the pressure of your cooling system.

5.       Properly Functioning Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers are super important for your safety. Rain, hail, snow, any type of precipitation makes the visibility outside change. When you are driving down the highway it can be difficult to see clearly, so you want to have the best possible view of the road. Properly functioning windshield wipers can make driving in messy weather a little more manageable. Your windshield wiper blades need to be changed if they are:

·         Streaking- the surface will be unclear and the wipers will leave long streaks behind. This often occurs when the blades are dry or dirty

·         Skipping- you will hear a loud, dry skipping sound that indicates that the rubber of the blade is wrapped

·         Worn Down-the edge of the rubber will start to round and even peel

·         Split- when the wiper blades are exposed to, too much sun the rubber of the blade will split or crack

·         Bent- damage can cause your wiper blades to become bent. Thing like car washes and scraping ice off of your vehicle can cause damage

6.       Brake Check

Finally, the brakes. Yep, that one is a no brainer. Brakes are an important part of your safety no matter the season. Winter time means slippery and ice roads so it is important that your brakes are prepared. So how do your breaks actually work?

1.       When your foot hits the brake, fluid signals the brakes of all four wheels to stop

2.       The force of your foot is multiplied

3.       The brake system exerts up to 1,000 pounds of hydraulic pressure to each brake

When it comes to your brakes there are two parts the brake rotors and brake pads. When you schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained certified technicians they will inspect both parts of the brakes to ensure your safety.

·         Inspection of the brake hoses for brittleness or cracking

·         Inspection of brake lining and pads for wear or contamination by brake fluid or grease

·         Inspection of wheel bearings and grease seals

·         Adjust parking brake as needed

·         Check brake fluid level at every oil change. Replace fluid according to the Owner’s Manual recommendations

·         Calipers and wheel cylinders should be checked every brake inspection and serviced or replaced as required

·         Inspect the brake lines for rust or punctures

As you prepare for winter, don’t forget to schedule an appointment at Liberty Buick GMC to make sure your vehicle is ready to keep you safe during the cold season and through any messy weather.

The 2018 All-New Terrain!

Liberty Buick GMC is gearing up for the New Year. With just a few months left in 2017, all-new 2018 vehicles are starting to fill the lot at Liberty Buick GMC. The 2018 GMC Terrain has a new look and some awesome new features that we are excited about. Liberty Buick GMC already has 12 of the new vehicles on standby, ready for you to take a test drive. The new GMC Terrain model comes in several different packages and has many unique features available. The vehicle is priced thousands of dollars below MSRP values to ensure that you are getting the best prices and there are many different packages to help provide a range of different prices. 

What’s New? 

·         All New Lights- New signature C-shaped lighting is designed to shape the bold exterior of the vehicle while providing a little extra lighting to help shine through some of those dark roads.

·         Distinctive Grille- GMC vehicles are proudly known for their signature front grille. The new GMC Terrain has a bold front grill that comes in different styles for the SLE, SLT, and the Denali vehicle. Each of the three front grilles are unique and set a daring look for the vehicle.  

·         Interior Material – The vehicle’s interior has been completely redesigned to give passengers even more comfort. The vehicle comes standard with a leather wrapped steering wheel, aluminum trim, and soft-touch materials.

·         New Center Console- It’s an all-new and innovative Electronic Precision Shifter. This new design uses a switch-based system to open up space and allows for a larger storage area.

·         Performance- The new GMC Terrain model uses a turbocharged engine. There are several engine options including a 1.5 liter gas engine, 2.0 liter gas engine, and a 1.6 liter diesel engine.

·         Traction Control- This crossover vehicle is designed to help you tackle challenges drivers face. The new Traction Select System allows the driver to adjust the mode to fit road surfaces and unexpected conditions in real-time.

Come take a test drive in the spectacular new GMC Terrain. It is the perfect compact SUV vehicle with the perfect amount of space for both passengers and cargo. Slide on over to the dealership and give this family-friendly sport vehicle a spin.

Spend this Hunting Season in the Right Truck, a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500

Hunting without a truck is nothing short of sacrilege, especially here in the South where you can find some of the best hunting in the country. Not just any truck will do, either. You have to have one with the newest updates in technology, performance, and comfort. The avid hunter knows that the truck taken on the hunt often times serves as a bed, and a meal-stop. At Liberty Buick GMC we believe in working with nothing but the best, and this hunting season the best you can do is a new GMC truck.

Before venturing out to your favorite spot to hunt, there are three things to consider: what you are going hunt, where you are going to hunt, and what you are going to drive to get the job done. Before we look into what’s in season and where the best places are to find them, let’s start with the transportation. You need something that can serve just as much as a resting place as a mode of transportation. Something that can quietly keep you warm and comfy, yet maintain that certain strength only found in top-of-the-line trucks, which have the capability to move through just about anything and you never have to worry about them letting you down.

Maybe it’s these same reasons that the all-new, 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 is already a top-seller. It’s known as one of the best all-around trucks on the market, especially for those who like a bumpy trail over the smooth road. The 2017 GMC Sierra’s expert performance, rugged toughness, and abundance of comfort and space make it the perfect hunting vehicle. The 6.0-liter, V-8 engine with 360 horsepower is incredibly powerful (380 lb-ft of max torque is nothing to laugh at), and more than capable handling any terrain, even with a bed full of the day’s plunder.

The interior is nice as well. All the materials and textures are of higher quality than ever before, and there is a surplus of storage space, cup holders, and room to move around. This means whether you are hunting with a bow or a gun, rifle or pistol, the Sierra has plenty of room. It also has five USB ports and a 300 watt inverter for 120 volt plug-ins, so if you need to charge your flashlight, phone, or anything else the Sierra operates as a power hub so that you can be ready for that world class buck, bear, or turkey.

Now that you have the perfect truck for hunting, it’s time to decide on the what, where, and when. Here is a detailed list we have compiled of what is in season and where, based on recommendations from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission:

Eastern Deer Season:

·         Archery is from September 9 through September 29, 2017.

·         Blackpowder is from September 30 through October 13, 2017.

·         Gun is from October 14, 2017 through January 1, 2018.

Central Deer Season:

·         Archery is from September 9 through October 27, 2017.

·         Blackpowder is from October 28 through November 10, 2017.

·         Gun is from November 11, 2017 through January 1, 2018.

Northwestern Deer Season:

·         Archery is from September 9 through November 3, 2017.

·         Blackpowder is from November 4 through November 10, 2017.

·         Gun is from November 18, 2017 through January 1, 2018.

Western Deer Season:

·         Archery is from September 9 through October 1, 2017; October 15 through November 19, 2017; December 10, 2017 through January 1, 2018 (this is only for antlered deer).

·         Blackpowder is from October 2 through October 14, 2017.

·         Gun is from November 20 through December 9, 2017.

Gun Season for Either Sex:

·         Introductory is open the last day of the applicable gun season.

·         Conservative is the last six open days of the applicable gun season.

·         Moderate is open every day of the applicable gun season.

Wild Turkey Spring Season:

·         This is for bearded or male turkey only and is open April 14 through May 12, 2018.

Wild Turkey (Youth Only) Season:

·         This is for bearded or male turkey only and is open April 7 through April 13, 2018.

Urban Archery Season:

·         Archery only is open January 13 through February 17, 2018.

Youth Deer Hunting Day:

·         With any legal weapon, this is open only on September 23, 2017.

Now that you know what you can hunt and when, it’s time to decide where you and your new GMC Sierra 1500 should go for the fun. Luckily, North and South Carolina have plenty of spots to try, but here are what we think to be some of the best places in Charlotte, Matthews, and surrounding areas to hunt:

·         Central Carolina Outdoor Club is a unique spot with plenty of land (over 4,000 acres) and fellow hunters to pall around with and learn from. There is hunting, fishing, and beautiful spots for camping and enjoying the outdoors. Central Carolina Outdoor Club owns land contained within three of the four deer and game zones in North Carolina, plus four out of five zones in South Carolina! Located within 100 miles of Charlotte, this spot is perfect when you get the urge to hop in your Sierra and head out for a hunt. This is a club, so membership is important, but honestly, what a convenience to have a plot this large and full of game to be hunted.

·         Goldmine Hunting Preserve is a highly successful organization providing quality hunting, trapping, and fishing. Located in Midland, Goldmine Hunting Preserve is been operating for over 37 years and has proven to have prized hunting grounds and game. There are beautiful bodies of water, picturesque views, and a wide-open sky. This is a great spot for weekend trips with friends, or even one for a fun teaching experience with the young ones. Either way, you are sure to have something nice in that Sierra bed on the way home.

·         Allen Brothers Hunting Preserve is a great place to practice the old English tradition of driven pheasant hunts, something you definitely will not find at most other hunting preserves. Driven pheasant hunts involve launching birds from a tower while hunters, poised and ready, take aim at the darting targets. It takes special skill, but is highly satisfactory come the end of the hunt. Allen Brothers also allow for other birds to be hunted on special occasion, but pheasants are the game of choice around these parts.

·         Beaver Pond Sporting Club is perfectly set among the historic Piedmont hills in Snow Camp, North Carolina. Come and enjoy a simply beautiful setting of hills and trees and bodies of water for either a half-day or a full day of fun. Beaver Pond specializes in wing and clay target shooting.

No matter what you end up hunting this season, and no matter where you go, be sure and keep safety as priority number one. The best hunters are cautious and smart. Liberty Buick GMC knows that those who plan well, do well and that’s why we suggest the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 as your next truck. Hunting, fishing, pleasure-drives, these are all done better and more efficiently in a GMC. You will not find a better selection or price range anywhere else than here. Come see us today, and happy hunting!

-Andrae Bergeron

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