Safety & Your Car

For optimum driving performance and safety, maintaining your vehicle is critical. For help, visit any of our ACDelco Service Centers in the region and treat your vehicle to a world-class experience.

Taking responsibility for yourself and your passengers means driving defensively. Take every precaution - from reasonable speed to using occupant restraints. And make sure you're always aware of other drivers.

Easy Routine Maintenance

Tire Pressure

It's not magic. Just a little knowledge - and a little extra care - can add up to better performance, money-saving mileage and added driving safety. For a true tire pressure reading, check tires when they're cold, after your vehicle has been idle for at least three hours. You'll find a sticker on the underside of the trunk lid or edge of the driver's door that tells the proper tire inflation for your car or truck.

Remember that over-inflated tires wear out more quickly in the tread center and under-inflated tires wear out more quickly at the tread's outer edge. Under-inflated tires also cause an increase in rolling resistance, which can lead to increased fuel consumption.

Oil Level

You'll get a more accurate dipstick reading by waiting a few minutes after turning off the engine, giving the oil time to drain from the crankcase into the oil pan. And make sure the vehicle is on level ground!

Engine Overheating

If your engine overheats in summer traffic, turn off the air conditioner and turn the heater and fan to their highest levels. You'll get warm, but you'll cool down the engine.

Remove Fabric / Carpet Stains

Rub stubborn stains with a damp cloth moistened with club soda or glass cleaner. Or try denture cleaner dissolved according to directions on the package. It's a good idea to do a spot test first.

Tips

Nobody wants their road trip spoiled by car trouble! Just a little pre-trip planning goes a long way towards ensuring a fun and safe trip for the entire family.

Before leaving on a road trip, be sure to:

• Take your vehicle to any ACDelco Service Center in the region and have trained technicians check your belts, hoses, brakes, lights, windshield washer fluid, wiper blades, engine oil and coolant.
• Make sure your trunk has a jack, lug wrench and other tools you'll need to change a tire
• Check tire pressure on all tires, including the spare.
• Make sure you have a working flashlight with extra batteries, emergency reflectors, sunglasses and a first aid kit.
• Take your driver's license, vehicle registration and auto and medical insurance cards.
• Carry a spare set of vehicle keys.
• Plan your route and leave a copy of your itinerary with a relative or neighbor.
• Take any special medications and prescription information.
• Take your doctor's phone number.
• Take your eyeglass prescription.
• Bring a cellular phone or sign that tells passersby to "Call Police" in case of trouble.

Have any repairs or vehicle maintenance performed before the trip.

Branded Parts

What Are Counterfeit Parts?

Counterfeit parts are imitation parts manufactured, packaged and represented in a way intended to fool you. The people who make and sell these fakes want you to think you're getting a part produced by a reputable company such as ACDelco, but you're not! Also, most fake part distributors use trademarks without obtaining the owner's permission. This is a criminal offense that can land them in jail!

Counterfeiters can duplicate a trademark exactly, or, in some cases, alter it slightly (or just enough so the average customer wouldn't notice the difference.) Counterfeit parts distributors use the trademarks and other recognizable characteristics, such as similar packaging; to market their products and trick consumers into thinking they are buying the real thing.

Here's the real kicker: More often than not, imitation parts are inferior in quality and performance when compared to the genuine articles.

Off-Road Driving

What Are Counterfeit Parts?

Some tips to make sure your desert adventure is fun. And safe.

1. Be prepared for the unexpected.

Never venture out into the desert alone.

2. Be sure of your bearings.

Know where you are and where you’re going. Take good maps along. Gather as much information about the area you plan to travel off-road. Read published material, check maps or ask the locals. Changing weather conditions could prove hazardous if you are not aware or prepared for it. Inform someone back home about your trip, when you are expected to return and whether to raise an alarm if they do not hear from you within a particular time. Please remember to inform them as soon as you are back to avoid unnecessary panic.

3. Know your vehicle

To get off the sidewalk and onto the sand, you need 4-wheel-drive. Read the manual. Know your vehicle’s minimum ground clearance, height and width; this will help you clear overhanging trees, narrow washes and rocks. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition, has good trail tires and is ready for the trail. All your tires, including the spare must be of the same type, size and make. Make sure that loads are evenly distributed within the vehicle. Being prepared and having your vehicle maintained to a reasonable degree will help counter several problems.

4. Be well equipped

In addition to the usual tools, take along a spare tire, jack and wheel spanner. Stock up enough food and camping equipment to keep you comfortable for several days in case of adverse conditions. The first aid kit should include insect bite spray, burn ointment, bandages/band-aids, spare compass, flashlight, extra batteries, matches, a fire extinguisher, pocketknife, spare blanket, small shovel, a towrope and two 2-foot-long boards in case you get stuck – all of these could come in handy. Your emergency kit should include lots of fluid, a case of ice, aerial or road flares, rope, duct tape, small tarp or ground cover.

5. Drive slow and easy.

Wouldn’t you rather enjoy the desert experience than repair damage caused by rash driving on unfamiliar terrain? Put your vehicle in 4-wheel drive before you need it, and shift to a low-range early to reduce the strain on your vehicle. Stay on top of the ruts. Drive in a relaxed and upright posture with a loose grip on the steering wheel. Use low-range or first gear on downward hills for maximum braking effect. If the ground is soft or marshy, lower the tire pressure to improve traction, and reduce sinking. Check out difficult terrains such as rocks, ruts, etc. on foot first, as to avoid the risk of getting stuck or damaging your vehicle. When in deep sand, keep your speed up and use higher gears. Keep wheel spin to a minimum to ensure smooth forward movement. If you get stuck in sand, try letting some air out of the tires, and remember to air them up again as soon as you can. Don’t go down a hill unless you are sure you can come back up or there is another clear and obvious trail out. In case you get lost, stuck or you break down, remain calm. Either stay with your vehicle or make yourself visible with smoke or a signal fire, or a brightly colored cloth or blanket. Protect yourself from the elements. Dry out brakes immediately after driving through deep water (or mud), by driving a short distance with the brake pedal applied lightly. Avoid dangerous side slopes; and should you encounter rocks, drive slowly and carefully. As you make your way back from the off-road area, check your vehicle completely before continuing on with highway travel. Check and inflate the tires, examine the vehicle for leaks or anything that could prove hazardous to you or other drivers on the road.

6. Desert etiquette

Do not blaze a new trail. The desert sand is teeming with wildlife. The weight of your vehicle could crush them as well as the tunnels and holes that are their homes. Moreover, each new rut made by your tires could also cause erosion. Don’t litter the desert. Remember to bring back even the tiniest candy wrapper that you take along. Be thoughtful of the animals in the desert and your fellow travelers. Keep music and noise levels down when others are around. They too would like to enjoy the peace of the desert.

Things to remember

• Never go out alone.
• Always wear your seatbelt.
• Drive within your abilities.
• Drive smoothly with throttle, brake and steering control.
• Use first gear/low-range on downward hills.
• Check out difficult or unfamiliar terrain.
• Always tread gently.
• Use common sense in all situations.
• Check your car, re-inflate tires etc. after the drive.

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