How should I ready my vehicle for winter driving? 6 Tips for getting your vehicle ready for winter weather.
- Check Your Tires
Make sure your tires are at recommended PSI. Check your owner’s manual if you are not sure what number it is. Inspect your tread depth and replace if necessary. Worn tires create a dangerous situation in winter weather. Snow tires are also an important consideration. If you need to be on the road regardless of weather conditions, we strongly recommend snow tires—there are no short cuts or substitutions for snow tires. The tread is specially designed to break up and disperse the snow versus it building up as it does on a conventional tire. If you get snow tires from us, we will even store your summer tires over the winter.
- Inspect Windshield Wipers
Do you recall the last time you replaced your windshield wiper blades? If not, then it is time to have them replaced. This is an item that is often overlooked until the blade cracks or splits. It is such an important feature and very inexpensive to replace, so don’t wait, do it today. Visibility is crucial in wintry/rainy conditions. Check your wiper fluid and make sure it is full. We recommend keeping a gallon of windshield solvent in your trunk. Nothing is worse than running out of washer fluid when you are on the highway in bad weather! - Check Battery
Have your battery checked to make sure connections are corrosion-free and that it has sufficient water. If your battery is more than 3 years old, have it tested to make sure it still holds a charge. Replace if needed. - Winter Oil Change
Make sure your oil has the right viscosity for wintertime. Check your owner’s manual for guidance on which oil is right for cold temperatures. - Inspect Belts and Hoses
Make sure they are in good condition as cold weather can cause extra wear and tear. - Pack a Winter Emergency Kit
Have a supply of essentials in case you get stuck in your vehicle in the winter months. This should include items such as an ice scraper/snow brush, emergency flasher/flares, a first aid kit, water, non-perishable food, cellphone charger, window breaker/seatbelt cutter tool, and duct tape.
Jaffarian is here to help you with any of your winterizing needs. Our service and parts departments are stocked with the essentials and we are happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Contact us to book an appointment, and we’ll get your vehicle ready for winter!
Safe Driving!
What can parents do to make sure teen drivers are safe on the road?
This is an important question, and in fact, Oct. 16-22 is National Teen Driver Safety Week. Because teenagers are involved in triple the number of fatal accidents compared to all other drivers, Congress established National Teen Driver Safety Week in 2007. Of course, safe driving is a topic for every week when you have teen drivers, but this week has been dedicated to raising awareness, providing education and seeking solutions to prevent teen accidents, injuries and fatalities on the road.
The 3 greatest dangers for teen drivers are as follows:
- Distracted and drowsy driving
Distracted driving is “anything that takes your HANDS off the wheel, your EYES off the road and your MIND off the task of driving”. Between the lure of cell phones, music and friends as passengers, a teen can easily be distracted from driving safely. Make sure your teens are aware of this and focus on always paying full attention to the road. Encourage them to put away electronic devices while in the car.
Drowsy driving is another danger as 50% of drowsy driving accidents involve drivers under 25. Teenagers require more sleep than adults, yet often stay up late at night and get up early for school. Make sure your teens get enough sleep if they are going to be driving. - Inconsistent or no seat belt use
This is common sense, yet many teens think they don’t need to wear seat belts. Statistically, not wearing a seat belt makes you 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash. And, more than 75% of people ejected die from their injuries. Parents are in control and can enforce the rule of no seat belt, no car keys. Also, it’s good to remind any passenger, but especially teens, to wear a seatbelt if using a ride share. Serious injury and in some instances, deaths could have been avoided if a seatbelt had been worn. - Speeding
As we all know, young people can feel invincible and also are susceptible to peer pressure. Hence, speeding is a factor in nearly 30% of teen crashes with fatalities. Make sure your teen knows you will not tolerate speeding, and that car privileges will be revoked for any infractions.
Please make sure you have conversations this week and regularly with your teen drivers about the rules of the road and how important they are to follow when behind the wheel or traveling in a vehicle.
At Jaffarian, we are here to help you keep your vehicles safe and in good repair for you and all the drivers in your family. October is also a good time to make sure vehicles are ready for cold weather.
Relevant sources for more information on teen driver safety:
https://www.teendriversource.org/advocacy-education/national-teen-driver-safety-week
https://youth.gov/announcements/national-teen-driver-safety-week
What can I do to make sure my child passengers are safe in the car?
A timely question, as National Child Safety Week is September 18-24 and the kids are back in school. No one likes to think about it but, unfortunately, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), automotive accidents are a leading cause of fatality for children aged one to 13. However, many of these could have been prevented simply by drivers making sure they followed common sense rules – children who were unrestrained or improperly restrained accounted for too many of these tragedies.
Jaffarian Volvo Toyota would like to remind you of some of the most important steps you can take to make sure your young passengers are safe when in an automobile. If you don’t have young children, please share this important information with family and friends who do
One of the most important things you can do is to get the right type of car seat for your child and the right fit for your vehicle. Of course, this includes using seat belts correctly, as well. Saturday, September 24 is National Seat Check Saturday. Contact your local police department, fire department or hospital or go to Mass.gov or beseatsmartnh.org for information on inspection sites near you to have your car seat checked. This is a complementary service and well worth the time to stop by and have the peace of mind that your car seats are properly installed.
More information related to this topic is easy to find on government sites such as the CDC and NHTSA sites.
As always, Jaffarian is here to help you with any vehicle needs, maintenance and repairs. Safe travels!
What can I do to drive safer now that schools will be back in session?
That is an important question as the kids go back to school in our area. Here are some tips on sharing the road.
- In school zones and residential neighborhoods, drive with extra vigilance.
- Watch for running children or bikes coming out of driveways or from behind parked cars.
- Keep your attention on the road and surroundings, and do not be distracted by calls, texts or other distractions in your vehicle.
- Always stop for crossing guards holding up a stop sign or signaling.
- Pedestrians always have right of way in a school zone crosswalk.
- Never pass other vehicles stopped for pedestrians.
- Observe and obey posted school zone speed limits, which are 20 mph in MA and 10 mph below the normal posted limit in NH (in effect 45 minutes prior to and after school is in session.)
- Never pass a stopped school bus from behind or from the opposite direction on an undivided road. If the lights are flashing and the stop arm is out, all traffic must stop.
- Stay at least 100 feet back from a school bus when it is loading or unloading.
Also, if you are driving near a high school or college, be aware that many young drivers are on the road and have far less experience than you do. Be careful, patient and drive with extra care.
If you have any maintenance issues, including windshield wipers or tires that have excessive wear, contact Jaffarian, and we can help you make sure your vehicle is safe for you, your passengers and others on the road
How Do I Get My Car Ready for Summer Travel? 7 Tips to be Ready for Summer Fun.
That’s a great question! Summer is in full swing, but there’s still plenty of time for summer road trips. Here are 7 tips to make sure your vehicle is ready to go and if we can help you with any or all of these tips, please contact us, we’re here to help make sure your vehicle is ready to get on the road!
- Check your tires and tire pressure
Make sure all four tires have plenty of tread and that there are no bulges, tears, or gouges in the sidewalls. Always inflate tires to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. See our video on How to Check Your Tire Pressure for details. - Test and listen to your brakes
If you feel any vibration or hear a grinding sound when applying the brakes, you should take your vehicle in for a brake inspection. Any leaks or mechanical failure in the brakes, including pads, rotors, shoes and drums, should be repaired immediately. - Battery Test
Get your battery tested to make sure it is full and that all connections are tigh - Check All Fluids
Check and top off engine oil and other fluids, including coolant. - Windshield Wipers
Inspect wiper blades and replace if signs of wear. Make sure windshield washer fluid reservoir is full. - Check belts and hoses
Get a visual check and replace any that are cracked or frayed. Have a service technician do this if you are not familiar. - Check the AC
Make sure your AC is running cool and change the air filter if needed. Take a test drive and if there has been a decrease in cooling, take your car to your service center for diagnosis and repairs.
Most of all, take your time and plan your route ahead of time. Adhering to the posted speed limits and using cruise control will assist with fuel economy. Lastly, don’t forget the snacks!
Safe travels!
How can I minimize the costs of driving?
This is a timely question as continued rising fuel prices have people wondering how to reduce the costs of operating a vehicle. With increased spending necessary just to fill the tank, drivers wonder if they should put off spending money on car repairs and maintenance.
The answer to that is “No.” Taking care of your vehicle actually saves you money both on fuel costs as well as long-term expenses. Of course, there are additional things you can do to conserve fuel such as taking it easy on accelerating from a stop and driving at 55MPH on the highway. But, keeping a close eye on maintenance for your vehicle will actually save on fuel costs as well. And it is an investment that can pay off by extending the life of your vehicle.
Whoever thought filling the gas tank would cost $100? With gas prices continuing to rise, we all look for ways to save. While we can’t affect the price at the pump, taking care of your vehicle and ensuring it is operating at optimal efficiency will save you money over time. For more information on how to reduce total costs of operating your car, SUV or truck, both in the short-term and long-term, see our tips on How to Get Better Gas Mileage.
We are here to help you make informed decisions about servicing your vehicle. Visit us in Haverhill or call us at 866-937-8658.
Hit, Run, Score! Boys & Girls Clubs Witness Red Sox Win
August 31, 2021, Haverhill — More than 70 members of the Greater Haverhill and Lawrence Boys & Girls Clubs were treated to a Red Sox game on August 24, thanks to the Jaffarian Volvo Toyota’s commitment to community. Coach buses shuttled youth to Fenway Park for an exciting game in which the Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins 11-9. Jaffarian treated all of the members to a Fenway frank and a drink.
Give the Gift of Reading
Dear Customers and Friends:
Jaffarian Volvo Toyota is excited to partner with Ruth’s House for a book drive in memory of Sara Jaffarian’s birthday in September. Sara was a former school librarian and leader in the library profession, and Gary Jaffarian’s aunt. For her birthday, Jaffarian Volvo Toyota is inviting the customers, vendors and employees alike to donate new or gently used children’s books – preschool to 8th grade reading levels. Book donations are accepted at the showroom during business hours at 600 River Street, Haverhill.
Amazon Wish List
To make it easy – we have also set up an Amazon Wish List here! All books will be sent directly to the showroom so we can distribute them to Ruth’s House and other community organizations!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LGJ3HX59VXN2?ref_=wl_share
About Ruth’s House
Visit Ruth’s House and join their reading club! Children 12 years old or younger are eligible. Club members are given two (2) free books when you visit the store. When you read five (5) books and return the fully completed card with your name, five book titles and authors written on the club card - you will receive a $5 gift certificate to use in the store that same day! One gift certificate per month per child. Visit Ruth’s House to participate in the program at 111 Lafayette Street, Haverhill, MA.
Help us accomplish our goal of ensuring that books are in the hands of the children in Greater Haverhill! Thank you in advance for your support of literacy in our community!
Questions, call Eva Montibello at (617) 669-7181
K-8 School Libraries – open call to apply for the 2020 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming
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Volvo XC90 has been named a Car of the Decade by experts at Autotrader
The Volvo XC90 has been named a Car of the Decade by experts at Autotrader, the most recognized third-party car listings brand. It is the only luxury SUV to make the independently-chosen list.
According to Autotrader the XC90 that debuted in the 2015 model year is the perfect example of a modern vehicle primed for the future. It has a range of turbocharged, supercharged and electrified four-cylinder engines and offers good efficiency, a modern, minimalist interior, loads of connectivity and safety features, and unique Scandinavian elements like an available wool-blend interior.
- Three-row SUV stands alone as the only luxury SUV on 15-vehicle list
- Win adds to North American Utility of the Year and Motor Trend SUV of the Year awards
- Design, hybrid powertrain were significant factors
“The Volvo XC90 is one of the best cars of the decade because it’s a spectacular luxury SUV that kicked off a long line of fresh new vehicles forever changing the course of the Volvo brand,” said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. “The XC90 effectively elevates the entire brand to a true luxury position, it’s the full embodiment of all that Volvo can do right. The XC90 is a perfect example of how design restraint actually adds to the allure of a given vehicle. Both inside and out, the Volvo XC90 is tasteful and luxurious. Add to this a suite of advanced driver assist technologies and the Volvo XC90 becomes a compelling plot point in a long running story of Scandinavian style, engineering and fun that has become the Volvo of today and tomorrow.”
“The XC90 was named 2016 North American Utility of the Year and 2016 Motor Trend SUV of the Year, on top of more than 100 other awards from around the world,” said Anders Gustafsson, Executive Vice President Americas and President and CEO of Volvo Car USA. “For our best-selling vehicle to now be named an Autotrader Car of the Decade is just incredible, not just for us but for all our customers who chose to drive an XC90 instead of so many others on the market.”
“The Volvo XC90 is an amazing vehicle to drive — it’s my personal favorite”, said Gary Jaffarian, President and CEO of Jaffarian Volvo Toyota.
#jaffarianvolvo #haverhill #jaffarian #volvo #sweden #fourgenerations #familyowned #volvoexcellence #xc90 #xc60 #awardwinning #gavinjaffarian #garyjaffarian #askgary #jaffarianvolvotoyota
Jaffarian Automotive Group
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