Get your vehicles ready for Winter!

A Stitch in Time, Saves Nine!

With Labor Day just around the corner, it is hard to think that in a few months we could be seeing a white blanket of snow covering the parched grass that has seen little moisture at all this summer. Dust is out of control and it seems like it has been in the 90s pretty much everyday since June with this week is no exception. Here are some discount coupons available from our Honda and Downtown Service Depts.

It is time to make sure that this heat, that takes a big toll on your engines vital fluids, hoses, belts tires and battery, reducing your chances of breakdown when winter hits.

Fluids

Heat can be as hard on a vehicle as the cold. Fluids can break down in the intense heat, transmission fluid, Engine Oil, Brake Fluid, and anti freeze should all be replaced to give the components a fighting chance if we get a cold winter. 100 degree day will see Trans temps rise to around 200 degrees and a long hot summer will break down the lubricating properties of even the best quality fluids.

When getting your fluids changed, have the mechanic check for leaks. Hot fluids can often break down the gasket materials. Catch it in time and you might be able to use some of the aftermarket Stop Leak products. I have used White Shepherd, also known as Blue Devil and their stuff works well to rejuvenate dried, cracked and hardened rubber seals to a like new condition. With a Money back guarantee, you can't go wrong!

If you are putting away your vehicle for the winter you should fill the tank to 95% full with fresh fuel then treat the fuel with a Fuel Stabilizer such as Sta-Bil.

General Maintenance

Winter will always seek out a weak battery at the most inopportune time. Have your battery tested now. The Summer heat is bad for a battery, just as bad as the cold, they are like us, they like the moderate temps, not the extremes!

Tires wear quicker in when travelling on very hot asphalt and if you then travel on a dirt road with a hot tire, it can really age your tires quickly. Take the time to check all tires and make sure they are in good condition. It is a good idea to have winter and summer tires - Having spent many years living in Lake Tahoe where some monster snow storms can drop over 10 feet at a time, I have always had a set of studded tires for winter use. If we get some of those early rainstorms that then freeze solid at night, studded tires can be your new best friend!

A second set of rims is a good plan, Summer tires on one set of rims and Winter tires on the second set. If it is a mild winter, you can either change them over your self or bring them in to get switched when the weather turns. Winter tires are usually softer compound with studs or studless with "sipes" which is a process creating thousands of slits in the tread to allow the rubber to better grip the wet, snowy & icy roads.

Check you tire pressures regularly. Temperature changes will affect the pressure as will altitude. To reduce these changes, consider replacing the air with Nitrogen. It has larger molecules and is less resistant to pressure changes from temperature and altitude differences.
 

Most tires are filled with compressed air, which when dry consists of about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and 1 percent other gases by volume. Water vapor (humidity) can make up as much as 5 percent of the volume of air under worst-case conditions. Filling your tires with nitrogen mainly does two things: it eliminates moisture, and it replaces skinny oxygen molecules with fat nitrogen molecules, reducing the rate at which compressed gas diffuses through porous tire walls. That means, theoretically at least, that a tire filled with nitrogen retains optimal pressure longer, leading to more uniform tire wear and better gas mileage. The commonly quoted figure is that tires inflated to 32 psi get 3 percent better mileage than at 24 psi.

Brakes should be checked at least once a year. Don't wait until they start grinding as you will then not only need pads but rotors too.

Air Filters have been working extra hard this year with all of the dust, especially if you travel on any dirt roads. These should be checked and replaced regularly. A friend of mine lived near Mount St. Helens when it erupted - He was getting 10 miles to an air filter! The dustier the environment, the more often they need replacing.

Wiper Blades take a hammering in winter cold and summer heat - Replace before and after the summer

Timing belts are critical to look at. Made of rubber, they too suffer from a hot summer. They should be replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Failure of a timing belt will definitely ruin your day. When a belt brakes, the valves get together with the pistons and it is a free for all... Usually resulting in a complete engine replacement or rebuild. Remember - Timing is everything!

Winterizing Summary

• Are your tires in good condition - Do you need Winter Tires?
• Check / Replace your Engine Oil & Filter.
• Check/ Replace your Transmission Fluid / Filter if not a sealed unit.
• Check Tire Pressure regularly.
• If you have Four Wheel Drive, get it checked Before you need to use it.
• Have Belts and Hoses inspected - Replace as necessary
• Replace Wiper blades, Fill Wiper fluid reservoir with a anti freeze wiper fluid solution.
• Get your Battery and Alternator checked.
• Check your antifreeze - Flush system and replace every 24k to 2 years.
• Get your thermostat checked.
• Check / Replace your air filter.
• Check & top off your Power Steering fluid. Black or dark coloration indicates overheating and system needs to be checked for malfunction.
• Check Brake Fluid level, top off or if it is black in color, flush and replace and get your brakes checked for malfunction as this indicated overheating.
• Check your axle cases for leaks, if there are signs of seepage, you better get the fluid level checked.
• Get a set of tire chains.
• Put together a winter survival kit

Underriner Motors of Billings can perform all of these checks on all makes and models of cars and trucks for you at our Downtown Buick, Hyundai, Volvo Service dept (Service line 406 255-2380) or our Honda Service dept off Zoo Drive. (Service Line 406 255-2315) You also get a free Car Wash with your service!

HondaLink Infotainment in the 2013 Honda

HondaLink - Honda's Infotainment System

HondaLink uses Honda’s “Cloud” Technology to integrate your Smartphone into the car’s infotainment system. Look for it as an option in the new 2013 Honda Accord and other 2013 Honda Models. Play this video for more information.

Honda will partner with Aha Radio by Harman to bring web radio, podcasts and both Twitter and Facebook audio news feeds to the in-dash systems on the 2013 Vehicles.

Aha Radio by Harmon will be introduced in 2013 Honda Models

Aha Radio organizes your favorite content from the web into personalized, live, and on-demand radio stations. Access your favorite podcasts, internet radio, on-demand music, personalized traffic reports, restaurant recommendations. All from a simple to use interface that makes accessing content as safe, and easy, as turning the dial.

Aha Radio goes where you go, and lets you pick up right where you left off. Whether you are listening on your smartphone, or using a compatible car stereo, your favorite content comes to you.

For more information contact Underriner Honda on 406 255 2350

2013 Honda Accord Unveiled

New 9th Generation Honda Accord

2013 Honda Accord EX-L Coupe V6

  

Underriner Honda are excited to see the new 2013 Honda Accords arriving at our dealership. Although the Accord is completely new, it has not lost it's identity and is still very much recognizable as an Accord. With over 100 upgrades it is truly an amazing vehicle. 

2013 Honda Accord Sedan

One feature is the new Hondalink iCloud technology which is set to be introduced throughout Honda's models.

The New 2013 Honda Accord features a new sculpted look and a few premium touches. 

Aerodynamics are a big factor in the new styling. Flush mounted windshield with flush mounted wipers and smooth underbody panels will reduce drag and increase fuel economy.

Technology will include cloud connectivity plus the Hondalink smartphone system. Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, a full-color intelligent multi-information display and SMS text messaging that reads received texts from compatible mobile devices aloud over the audio system.

 The new Accord Sedan is slightly shorter than the predecessor yet the interior boasts more cabin and trunk space. The Coupe is similar in size to the 2012 model.

Pandora Streaming Audio is also available if spy photos are anything to go by!

Pandora Streaming Audio
Other tech features rumored are lane departure warning, forward collision warning technology, blind spot detection, and a standard rearview back-up camera. 

2013 Honda Accord Coupe

The Hybrid Accord returns (all electric range of 15 miles) and is joined by a two motor Plug–in Hybrid model featuring three modes – All Electric, gasoline-electric and direct drive.

Engines will be the 2.4 Litre 181hp 4 Cyl with 181lb-ft torque. This is slightly less horsepower but considerably more torque over last year. Internal friction is also reduced.The Accord engines are named “Earth Dreams” and feature improved fuel economy (Honda is claiming an increase of 10%) and lower emissions, debuting the Direct Fuel Injection and double overhead cams. EPA is rating the Four Cylinder at 27mpg City / 36mpg highway with the V6 improving to 21mpg City / 34 Mpg Highway. The V6 Manual Coupe was recently tested by Motortrend magazine at 5.6 sec 0-60 with the manual 4 Cylinder Accord Sport achieving a very impressive 6.8 seconds 0-60!. The CVT Automatic 4-cyl hit 7.6 secs. (The fastest 0-60 test on a  4cyl in 2012 was 8.2 secs)

All of the 4cyl Automatics will be Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

The re-engineered 3.5L V6 will be paired with either a 6 speed auto or 6 speed manual transmission. It will have more horsepower and better overall fuel economy.

 2013 Honda Accord Coupe
Honda has also added more Safety features for 2013.

Motortrend wrote this about the new Accord Hybrid:  "The real piece de resistance of engineering here is the plug-in hybrid, set to go on sale in early 2013. Honda wasn't able to provide one for track testing, but we drove it at the launch event. We've hammered Honda for years about its aging Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system, which couldn't deliver the fuel economy of newer hybrids. This new plug-in hybrid is a world apart. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder is mated to two electric motors, one for power and one for regeneration, for a total output of 196 horsepower and 226 lb-ft of torque. Its 6.7 kW-hr lithium-ion battery takes up more than half the trunk, but it delivers a punch. Acceleration is brisk and Honda claims an all-electric range of 10 to 15 miles. What's more, Honda says it will regenerate battery power and add range twice as quickly as any other hybrid. It does this by using the Honda Fit EV's brake system, which uses regenerative braking until you're nearly stopped before switching to hydraulic brakes. Most impressive is that the handoff from regen to hydraulic braking is completely seamless. Likewise seamless is the handoff from electric propulsion to gasoline propulsion and back. That's in part because the car tries to use the gasoline engine like a generator as much as possible, providing electricity to the electric motor when the batter runs down. Above 62 mph, though, it has to switch to full gasoline power with a bit of electrical help, but you never feel it happen. The only knock on the hybrid is that it feels a bit more top-heavy in corners than the others. This is one impressive piece of technology."

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1209_2013_honda_accord_first_test/viewall.html#ixzz27ajGxJq5