3 Summer Maintenance Tips from your Local RAM Dealer

Have you noticed strange sounds, difficulty turning, or other changes in your vehicle's performance and handling? If so, these warning signs indicate that it's time to bring your vehicle to your Ram dealership for differential service. more Service the Differential for Safe Driving All cars and trucks have a differential, which allows you to maneuver safely through turns. If the differential fails, you lose your ability to control your vehicle when turning, especially when driving at high speeds. For the safe operation of your truck, it's important to maintain and properly service your differential. This keeps you and your passengers safe by preventing a loss of control caused by a differential failure during a turn. Performing differential oil changes and repairs eliminates this worry and helps ensure your vehicle's safety. Warning Signs Indicating Differential Problems While it's important to check your owner's manual for the recommended intervals for differential servicing, that's not enough. You should also pay attention to the warning signs you see and hear when operating your vehicle. If you notice any of the warning signs below, be sure to bring your truck to the dealership so our technicians can find the cause of the problem. Shaking or Vibrating While Driving If your truck shakes or vibrates while driving, this could indicate a possible issue with the differential oil. When the oil is dirty, contaminated, or low, the differential will not lubricate properly, which causes parts to grind and can lead to failure. Unusual Sounds While Turning If you hear unusual sounds while turning, often a skipping or banging sound, there's a problem. Your truck should move through turning maneuvers smoothly and quietly. Odd Sounds at Higher Speeds If you notice odd sounds, such as rumbling, whirring, or howling at speeds over 15 mph, they are warning signs of a potential problem. A whirring noise as you reduce speed also indicates a possible problem. Differential Oil Color Change If a vehicle's differential oil has changed color, it's time to change the oil. Oil that is gray, dark brown, black, or translucent green should be drained and replaced. If you notice any of these warning signs, it's important that our technicians inspect your vehicle to determine if differential service is needed. Contact us today at Liberty Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Montpelier, ID, to schedule an appointment. Image via

Your car's battery is a critical part, providing the power to start your engine and power electrical systems in your vehicle. Recognizing the warning signs that you need a new car battery from the RAM dealer can save you from the stress of a car that won't start. more Warning Lights Most CDJR vehicles have a battery warning light on the dashboard. If this light comes on, it's a signal that the battery isn't charging properly and needs immediate attention. Slow Engine Crank Does this sound familiar? When you try to start your car, the engine cranks slowly, laboriously, or not at all. This sluggishness is often the first and most common sign of battery trouble. It means your battery is struggling to provide enough power to start the engine. Difficulty Starting in the Cold Maybe your car starts just fine unless the weather is extra cold. Extreme cold temperatures can take a toll on your battery's performance. If your car struggles to start in freezing temperatures, it's time to consider a battery replacement. Clicking When You Turn the Key If you hear a rapid clicking sound when you try to start your car instead of the engine roaring to life, your battery may not have the power your car needs. An Old Battery Car batteries are only expected to last about three to five years. If your car battery is in that age range, you should have it tested to see whether it needs to be replaced. Even if there are no other warning signs, an old battery is a red flag that you can expect trouble soon. Electrical Component Issues If you notice problems like dimming headlights, flickering cabin lights, or sluggish windows, it could indicate your battery is getting too weak to power the systems correctly. Corrosion on the Terminals Pop the hood and take a look at the battery. If you see a white, ashy substance on its metal parts, that means corrosion is present. Corroded battery terminals can prevent good electrical conduction, leading to poor battery performance. Carefully cleaning corrosion off of the terminals can temporarily improve matters, but corrosion is usually a sign of an aging, failing battery. Swollen Battery Case If your battery's case looks swollen or bloated, that's bad news. It has suffered internal damage and can pose a serious safety hazard. Swollen car batteries need to be replaced immediately. Get a New Car Battery at Your Local RAM Dealer If you recognize any of these signs, don't worry. A quick trip to the dealership can have you and your car back on the road with a brand-new battery in no time. Regular maintenance can help extend the life of your car battery. Call Liberty Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM in Montpelier, ID, to schedule an inspection for your battery. Image via

Over the years, you'll need to visit the Jeep dealer for a range of essential services. One service that you'll need pretty regularly is an oil change. Most people need to change their oil more than once per year, although several factors impact how often you need the oil and oil filter replaced. more When Do You Need to Visit the Jeep Dealer for an Oil Change? How often drivers need to stop in for an oil replacement varies. Many Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, and RAM vehicles need new motor oil after being driven 5,000 miles. However, some vehicles can go much longer between changes. Each model's owner's manual lays out specifications for that particular model, so we recommend reading yours thoroughly to see how often it suggests you change your oil. The truth is that several factors play a role in how long your fresh fill of motor oil is going to last, so sometimes, you may need fresh oil more often than your manual suggests. What Factors Impact How Long Motor Oil Lasts? Oil Type Your manual will be accurate with its recommendation for how often you change your oil based on the type of oil your vehicle uses. Synthetic motor oil lasts a lot longer than conventional oil. If your car uses conventional oil, then you'll be visiting the dealer a lot more frequently. Vehicle Age Modern engines have more efficient designs than older models, so the oil lasts longer. Years of debris buildup and wear and tear in an engine can cause it to use more oil, too. Driving Frequency and Habits Of course, the more you drive, the more often you need to change your oil. How you typically drive also impacts how often you need to change the oil. If you tow often, regularly drive in stop-and-go traffic, or tackle harsh roads a lot, then you'll need oil replacements more often, too. What Happens When You're Overdue To Have Your Oil Replaced? The Oil Gets Dirty Your oil can get dirty as it cycles through your engine. It may darken, become gritty, or thin out. It may also start to smell like it's burning. Dirty and thin oil can't lubricate your engine effectively. The Engine Gets Noisy A noisy engine is a bad sign. It tells you that something's wrong. Sometimes the only thing wrong is that you need to have your oil replaced. The Car Uses More Fuel If your engine isn't being lubricated enough by the oil, then it may start using more fuel. If you're stopping at the gas station a lot, then you should have your car checked out at the dealer. Come to Liberty Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM to get your oil replaced as often as needed. Our technicians will be happy to talk to you about how often you specifically should be changing out your oil. Image via