Pinnacle Auto Blog

Our Cars Make Us Happy

So why do we love the cars we do?  It’s likely a number of things, most of them have nothing to do with horsepower.  More so than any other thing we might own or ever own, our cars create deep emotions in their owners.  It is the important moments in our lives experienced in that car that count and create our memories.  That first date, that first kiss, that first car you got as a teen that you were so in love with or that car you have always dreamed of owning.  It seems that nothing, not high gas prices, traffic, insurance costs or sometimes even the cost of ownership can interfere with the love of our cars and the feelings we get when we drive them.  For some people the car they drive equals status, for others it represents freedom.  We name them, take pictures with them, tell stories about them and cherish the memories we had with them.  There is always that car we owned that we wish we still had or that one that was so fun to drive. Our cars make us happy.

We love our cars so much that there are lots of communities and groups  in every community that share similar interests for us to gather and talk about the cars we love or just share our need for speed.   Listed here are some of the local car clubs and upcoming  events  in the Triangle area to help you satisfy your passion for cars.  There are plenty of opportunities to share the love.  If you have photos you would like to submit of your car for inclusion on either our website or this blog please send them to pinnacleservice@bellsouth.net.  We would love to hear from you.  Enjoy your car and keep it between the lines.

Local Car Clubs

NC Sports Car Club of America, Triangle Region: http://www.ncrscca.com/

BMW Car Club of America, Tarheel Chapter: http://www.tarheelbmwcca.org/

Porsche Club of America, Zone 3: http://zone3.pca.org/

Mercedes Benz Club of America, Triangle Section: http://www.mbca.org/section/triangle

Tarheel Mini Motoring Club: http://www.tarheelminis.org/

Audi Club Southeast: http://sec.audiclubna.org/

Triangle Z Club: http://www.trianglezclub.com/

NC MG Car Club:  http://ncmgcarclub.org/

Tarheel Tigers Pontiac Club: http://www.tarheeltigers.org/

Bull City Street Rod Association: http://www.mycarclub.info/Bull%20City%20club.htm

Carolina Plymouth Club: http://clubs.hemmings.com/frameset.cfm?club=carolinaplymouth

Corvettes International, Raleigh: http://www.corvettesinternational.com/forum/index.php

Freedom Cruizers, Roxboro: http://www.mycarclub.info/Freedom%20Cruizers_page_5.htm

Piedmont Classic Chevy Club: http://www.piedmontccc.com/

Trans Am Country, Goldsboro: http://transamcountry.com/site/

March  NC Car Club Events

Carolina Collector Auto Fest March 9, 2012 – March 11, 2012 Randy Myers 336-972-4362 Raleigh

5th Annual Shamrock Show Poker Run  March 15, 2012 – March 18, 2012

Anissa Musick 252-202-1054 Kill Devil Hills

  Bill Carone Charity Poker Run March 17, 2012 – March 18, 2012

Amanda Anderson 910-285-7151 Wallace

Wheels on Academy March 24, 2012 – March 24, 2012 Sarah Hagan  Cary

Estate Auction-Model As and More March 24, 2012 – March 24, 2012

Mike Sidorovic 828-778-1508 Asheville

  Cars for Colons  March 28, 2012 – March 28, 2012 Danielle Peckham  Winstonsalem

Tabs for Tumors part II car truck and bike show March 31, 2012 – March 31, 2012

Amy Bramlett  Macdaddys In Cape Carteret

CUMC Classic Car and Truck Show  March 31, 2012 – March 31, 2012

Andy Scherer  910-949-5204 Carthage

April NC Car Club Events

        May NC Car Club Events

Swap Meets

AMCA Southern National Meet
May 18, 2012 – May 19, 2012 Bob Aton
417-838-4777 Denton

Cruise Ins

Bojangles Cruise- in
January 20, 2012 – December 21, 2012 Tommie Bostic
910-298-5301 Beulaville   Cars for Colons
March 28, 2012 – March 28, 2012 Danielle Peckham  Winstonsalem   Cars for Colons
March 28, 2012 – March 28, 2012 Danielle Peckham  Winstonsalem   Roseboro Cruise In
April 13, 2012 – October 19, 2012 Benny Greene
910-525-4576 Roseboro   ZAXBYS CRUISE-IN
April 14, 2012 – October 13, 2012 JOHNNY ELLIS
919-669-9888 Clayton   Downtown Yadkinville Cruise In
April 21, 2012 – August 18, 2012 David Garner
704-616-2225 Yadkinville   Driven for Missions – Piney Grove Baptist Church
April 28, 2012 – April 28, 2012 Mike Cole
919 552-2025 Fuquay Varina   Chair City Cruise
May 19, 2012 – October 20, 2012 Benny Huff
336-918-5812 Thomasville   Cruising Asheboro
May 26, 2012 – October 27, 2012 Benny Huff
336-918-5812 Asheboro

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Automotive Gadgets and Smartphone Apps – So Many Choices

The road can be a dangerous place.  There are a multitude of choices these days in the gadgets for your car and in the app market place to protect you, assist you and entertain you while you are driving.  There are apps for your smartphone for just about anything you can think of and gadgets galore.   Here are a few selections for you to consider that will help you, protect you and entertain you.  Enjoy!

BMW’s Ultimate Drive

“The Ultimate Drive,” is a social navigation mobile app that allows users to not only discover the best roads to drive in over 50 countries, but to rank, comment and share those roads via Facebook, email or other GPS devices. This app allows users to share and rate their most enjoyable routes while evaluating other user submissions on things like scenery and the ever elusive thrill factor.  Available for Android and iPhone

Co Pilot Live

Find the best route to any destination with a choice of up to 3 alternate routes, displaying travel time and mileage for each. For the ultimate in personal navigation, you can even drag your route to a preferred street you wish to take.  Tap anywhere on the map to navigate there, discover location-specific information or share your location with friends. Share your journey details with friends through Facebook Places check ins and in-app Twitter updates. Search Wikipedia or Bing Local Search from within the app to find even more places nearby to go! Available for iPhone and Android

Car Loan Calculator

A must have app when car shopping. Easy, simple car loan calculator, including optional inputs for sales tax and insurance. Calculate monthly cost of ownership. Calculate total payments and total interest. Figure out Principal paid off during life of the loan and figure out the costs of fuel economy. Includes menu tabs for amortization, gas/fuel costs, early payoff, and affordability.  Available for Android

Cell Control

For anxious parents who worry about teens and distracted driving.  Designed to put you as the parents in control of what your teen does or doesn’t do while driving.  Apps of this type are now even gaining popularity with corporate fleet managers.  Once in place any attempt to disable it or remove it will send an alert to the parent or administrator.  Since statistics show that the accident rate for teens is over 28% while this app might not make you popular with your teen it can help keep them a little safer. Available in Android and iPhone

Cobra Joy Ride – Its not just a typical car charger (not an app but very cool)

As soon as you plug in your  phone into the charger, it automatically reconfigures a companion app which opens your customized Car Mode. As a result, you get a car-specific interface with large buttons that allow you to easily operate functions on your device including hands-free calling, voice command, and even opening a GPS navigation app. In addition the app  automatically triggers the modification of some phone settings such as enabling GPS, disabling Wi-Fi, and setting your phone to vibrate. Most especially, the app has a geo-tagging function that helps you remember where you parked your car, even when unplugged. Available for iPhone and Android.

Viper Smart Start

Allows you to start, stop, unlock and even pop the trunk of your car and remembers where you parked each time you lock your car.  You can  remote start your car just by pushing a button on your smartphone. There is also a panic feature. The software also allows you to control multiple vehicles which is great for families.  This app does require additional cost besides the app be installed in your vehicle.  Found at retailers nationwide and in the app store for your phone.

My Car Salon

Last but not least,  just for plain fun here is an exciting time management game for car lovers!  In My Car Salon, you own a brand new auto repair shop, and there’s a lot of cars in the neighborhood just itching for a good tune-up. Keep your customers happy by giving their cars the services that they need, and remember to do it quick! Manage your mechanics well to make sure they don’t slack off, and save up for some upgrades to help them work even faster.  Think you can offer the best and fastest car servicing in town? Pull it off and you’ll see more cars roll into your shop, and more money roll into your cashier!  Your shop awaits, so go and have fun, just be sure and bring your real car in to Pinnacle Automotive Service when you need service or repairs. We invite you to visit our website at www.bimmercare.com .  Stay safe and keep it between the lines.

You can find these apps in either ITunes, the Android Marketplace or in the iPhone app store.  The gadgets are available at local retailers and online.

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ASE – What is it and why does it matter?

The Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, The ASE, is the only nationally recognized organization in the United States that tests and certifies automotive service professionals.

Technicians and other Automotive professionals test their skills and abilities through the ASE. The ASE then gives them certifications so the public and employers can gauge the expertise of individuals. The certifications are ASE Certified and ASE Master Technicians for the mechanics that service vehicles.

Pinnacle Automotive Service is an ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Repair facility and we employee ASE Technicians and also we have an ASE Certified Master Technician with Advance Automotive Engine Performance.  The ASE recognizes businesses that have a high degree of commitment to excellence and training. In the entire State of North Carolina, the ASE has awarded only 149 Auto Repair companies with their highest honors, The ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Recognized Businesses. Keep in mind, there are Tens of 1000′s of auto repair shops, dealerships, and other facilities in the state, so this is a very significant qualification to our abilities to provide service to your vehicles.

Choosing a Repair Shop

Start shopping for a repair facility before you need one.
Ask friends and associates for recommendations; consult local consumer organizations.
Arrange for alternate transportation in advance so you will not feel forced to choose a shop based solely on location.
Look for a neat, well-organized facility, with vehicles in the parking lot equal in value to your own.
Look for a courteous staff, with a service writer willing to answer all of your questions.
Look for policies regarding labor rates, diagnostic fees, guarantees, acceptable methods of payment, etc.
Ask if the repair facility specializes in any specific vehicles or repairs, or if it usually handles your type of repair work.
Look for signs of professionalism in the customer service area such as civic, community or customer service awards.
Look for evidence of qualified repair technicians: trade school diplomas, certificates of advanced course work, and certification by ASE.

How Consumers Benefit from ASE Technician Certification

Finding a competent auto repair technician should not be difficult…and with that guiding principle, the non-profit, independent national Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was founded in 1972.

The mission was clear: develop a mechanism by which working auto technicians could prove their competency to themselves, their employers, and to consumers. The solution: a series of national certification exams covering all the major automotive repair and service specialties.

The result: an elite group of automotive service professionals at work in repair establishments throughout the nation.

Why Use ASE Certified Auto Technicians?

Consumers benefit from ASE’s certification program since it takes much of the guesswork out of finding a competent technician.

Years ago cars were simpler and less complex. But with today’s high-tech vehicles, the margin for error is less. Mistakes can be costlier. It makes good financial sense to protect your automotive investment through regular, periodic maintenance and service performed by certified professionals.

Because ASE’s program is voluntary, technicians who have taken the time and expense to earn ASE certification can be counted on to have a strong sense of pride in accomplishment, which should be good news for consumers.

How Does ASE Certification Work?

Twice a year at national locations across the country and online, thousands of technicians sit for ASE certification exams. The exams are administered in the field by American College Testing. (ACT.)

Designed by representatives from the automotive service and repair industry, vocational educators, and ASE’s own in-house technical specialists, the exams stress real-world diagnostic and repair problems, not theory.

Technicians who pass at least one exam and fulfill the work experience requirement earn the title of ASE certified Automobile Technician, while those who pass all eight auto exams earn Master Auto Technician status. All ASE technicians are issued personalized credentials listing their exact areas of certification and an appropriate shoulder insignia.

Technicians must re-certify every five years in order to keep current with changing technology and to remain ASE certified.

How to Find an ASE Certified Technician

ASE technicians can be found at every type of repair facility: new car dealerships, independent service centers, service stations, tire dealers, specialty shops, and major franchises. There are about 500,000 ASE technicians at work nationally.

Repair facilities employing ASE-certified technicians usually display the distinctive blue and white ASE sign on the premises and post their technicians’ credentials in the customer service area. Employers sometimes include the ASE logo in their print advertising as well.

The technicians are also issued pocket-sized credentials cards listing their exact areas of certification.

Because ASE offers certification in all major technical areas of auto repair and service, it is wise to ask the shop owner or service manager specifically for a technician who is certified in the appropriate area – say, brakes or engine repair.

We look forward to seeing you at Pinnacle Automotive Service.

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Know Your Cost Per Mile

Knowing your cars cost per mile will better prepare you to budget for your trips gas usage.  With today’s fuel prices fuel efficiency is becoming more and more of a critical factor.  Knowing your car’s MPG (how many miles it gets per gallon) can help you determine if it’s is a gas guzzler that’s eating up your wallet or if your not getting the maximum fuel economy for your vehicle it may be time for some routine maintenance to help you achieve the best possible fuel efficiency for your vehicle.   Once you figure out the MPG, you can do many useful things, like calculate how much a $.10 rise in gas prices will affect your budget, or how getting a car with better MPG will lower your monthly costs.

Running a car with less than a quarter tank of fuel can shorten the life of the electric fuel pump and running on empty will often destroy the pump.

Odometer Method 

MPG can be calculated in four easy steps:

Alternate Method 

If you use your vehicle’s trip odometer, MPG can be calculated by:

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A Decade After The Firestone Recall, Tire Safety Still Newsworthy

Hot weather combined with the busy summer travel season means your tires will get a workout and some won’t survive the stress.

June 5th through the 11th is National Tire Safety Week and a good time to remind motorists to check their tires for proper inflation, wear, or damage before you head out on the roads.
From 2005-2009, nearly 3,400 people died and about 116,000 were injured in tire-related crashes. Many such crashes are preventable with periodic tire checks, particularly before a long trip in hot temperatures. Tires are more susceptible to stress from heat, especially if they are not fully inflated.

Here are some checks to make to ensure your tires are ready for summer’s challenges.

• Find out how much to inflate your tires by checking the air pressure recommendations listed on the placard on the driver’s door jamb or inside the glove compartment  or  fuel-filler door.
• Inspect your tires and replace them if you see cracks, cuts, or bulges.
• Look for uneven or excessive tread wear. Place a quarter upside down in a tire groove. The distance from the coin’s rim to George Washington’s hairline is about 1/8 inch. If you see all of his head in any one groove where a tread-wear indicator appears, consider shopping for new tires. Certainly, any groove worn to 1/16 inch, the distance between, the top of Lincoln’s head to the edge on a penny, should warrant tire replacement.
• The sidewall of the tire can tell you how old your tires are—some automobile manufacturers recommend replacing tires after six years, but as a rule of thumb any tires over 10 years old should be replaced regardless of wear. Read your vehicle owner’s manual for more tips on tire care.
Another benefit of properly inflated tires is an increase in fuel economy. In a vehicle with a fuel-economy rating of 30 miles per gallon and a 35 PSI tire pressure recommendation, a 25 percent drop in tire pressure would cut fuel economy by 8.8 percent. Remember, even a modest drop in tire pressure can impact handling, braking, and overall safety

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Summer Heat and Your Cooling System

Summer can be the most challenging season for automotive cooling systems. Vacations with long drives to distant places means carefree time for car owners, but hard work for engines and cooling systems. In the summer, engines often hit peak operating temperatures due to stress from the air conditioning system and extended running times during long trips. The result can be overheating if the cooling system does not operate efficiently.

The cooling system performs multitude of functions such as removing excess heat from the engine, maintaining efficient temperature and allowing engine to perform its task within a short span of time. Ideally, automobile cooling system keeps the engine running at an optimum temperature whatever the operating conditions are. Automobile Cooling System consists of components or equipment installed in vehicles for removing heat from all the moving parts so that they can work suitably without melting, seizing and overheating. More specifically, automotive cooling system makes use of coolant, lubricating oil and fan to maintain and regulate the temperature of other parts of an engine.

Have your cooling system checked for carefree summer travel. The following components of your cooling system should be inspected.

• Hoses – Radiator hoses deteriorate in normal use from flexing, vibration, high temperatures and chemicals in the coolant. Replace hoses that are cracked or brittle. Feel the hoses and replace any that are hardened or swollen, since they could fail at any time.
• Pressure cap – Not just a radiator cap anymore, it pressurizes the system, raising the coolant’s boiling point to prevent overheating. Replace the cap if the gasket is cut or looks brittle. Check the spring with a pressure cap tester and replace the cap if it cannot hold the rated pressure.
• Coolant – Flush the cooling system any time the coolant appears contaminated. Be sure coolant is at the specified level.
• Drive belt(s) – Drive belts can become loose and slip, causing a variety of problems. They should be inspected and replaced regularly, as recommended by the manufacturer. Inspect by twisting each belt to expose the underside and look for glazing or fraying, fatigue cracks and other signs of deterioration. Replace belts with these symptoms. Belt tension should also be checked. Press down on the belt about midway between the pulleys. It should deflect from 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. Caution: Over-tightened belts can cause water pump bearing damage. Use a belt tension gauge for a more accurate reading. Then adjust to spec.
• Fan blades – Look for cracks, bent blades and loose rivets. Never straighten a bent blade; instead, replace the fan. If the straightness of a blade is in question, remove the fan and lay it down on a flat surface. Replace the fan if any blade is more than 3/32 of an inch high.
• Fan clutch – Make three checks: One, look for “oily” streaks on the fan clutch housing. They are easy to spot because they attract dirt. The streaks usually indicate a silicone leak from the fan clutch. Replace the unit. Two, check the clutch bearing. Grasp fan blades opposite each other (three o’clock and nine o’clock positions, for instance) and try to move the fan and clutch assembly from side to side. Tip movement in excess of 1/4 of an inch indicates a worn clutch bearing. Replace the unit. Three, bring the engine up to operating temperature and turn it off. Spin the fan blade with one finger. If the fan rotates more than two turns, the fan clutch is freewheeling and the unit should be replaced.
• The Water Pump The water pump is often called the heart of the cooling system since it maintains coolant flow. Though today’s water pumps routinely last tens of thousands of miles when supplied by a reputable manufacturer and properly installed as part of a well maintained cooling system, they are often victims of misdiagnoses and premature replacement.

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Five Driving Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making

According to Ridelust  there are  five common mistakes that even experienced drivers make, most likely because they simply don’t know better.  These tips won’t shave time off your daily commute but they might help you avoid an accident or a costly repair bill.

Using cruise control in the rain – Cruise control is made to be used on dry, paved roads only.  Different levels of traction between the left and right drive wheels and the use of cruise control can suddenly turn or spin the car.  Rain on pavement causes oil to rise to the surface, turning ordinary asphalt into the the traction equivalent of black ice.  When you turn on your wipers, turn off your cruise control.

Overdriving your headlights – Beyond about 50 mph, even high beam lights dont provide sufficient illumination to allow for effective vision. On a dark road at 70 mph you have about zero chance of missing that deer when he decides to bolt in front of your car.  Always adjust your speed to match conditions and your knowledge of the road, and always expect the unexpected.

Pumping your brakes – In the days before ABS, dirvers were often told to “pump your brakes” to avoid locking them.  If your car has ABS your best bet for stopping in the shortest distance is to floor the brake pedal as hard as you can. On modern cars, pumping the brakes will deplete any vacuum asssisted brake boost the car has; in other words pumping the brakes will generally make them weaker.  ABS allows you to steer as you brake. 

Riding your clutch – Ask someone if they rest their left foot on the clutch pedal while driving  and almost every manual transmission driver will say “not me”.  Some drivers can go over 100K miles with a clutch, while others replace the clutch every 10K-20K miles.  To extend the life of your clutch never let your left foot ride on the clutch pedal unless you are shifting gears.  Chances are you may not even realize you are doing it.  Are you guilty?

Checking tire pressure hot – Checking tire pressure in many ways is as critical as checking oil yet most drivers simply ignore both tasks.  Incorrect tire pressure can lead to premature tire wear.  Follow your owners manual or door sticker as a guide to cold inflation tire pressure.  If you don’t mind a slightly harsher ride it’s usually ok to go a few pounds over the manufacturer recommendations. Front wheel drive cars should carry more tire pressure up front, simply because there’s more weight on the front wheels.  Always check tire pressure cold, after the car has sat for at least three hours.

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Are you sure you want to do that?

As the warmer weather days approach us, we think about washing our vehicles. Yes, in these busy times, between work, family and the season, a clean car just seems to be more important to us when the weather turns nice. But the quick and easy way isn’t good for your car.

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Car Overheating Tips

Nothing else will induce panic more than a vehicle’s rising t emperature gauge into the red zone. When your car overheats into that dreaded red zone you are at risk for permanent engine damage.

What causes this to happen and how can it be avoided?

Most vehicles today are designed in a way that liquid is circulated in a way that helps to cool your engine. This liquid is cooled by air movement through your grill and with a fan designed for this purpose. If any part of the cooling system malfunctions, the result is an overheating of your engine. Some of the common causes could be a fan motor that has stopped working, low fluid levels, blocked cooling lines or a thermostat that is no longer working. Also, if your oil level is extremely low or dirty it can prevent the vehicle from maintaining proper temperature.

Properly maintaining your vehicle and periodically checking the fluid levels can prevent overheating problems that might leave you stranded. Check the coolant reservoir to make sure the coolant fluid is at the proper level and is clean. Check the oil to also make sure that the oil level is within the designated marks on your dipstick. If your oil is very dark or dirty its time for an oil change. Periodically check that your coolant lines and hoses and radiator cap do not show any signs of leakage.

Despite your best efforts if your vehicle starts overheating while you are driving, don’t panic, there are several things you can do to help bring the temperature down to normal levels.

*Turn the air conditioning off.

* Turn the heat on full blast to help lower the engine temperature.

* Slow down and get your car safely off the highway

* Do not open your radiator pressure cap (the cap on top of the radiator) while the engine is hot. Doing so is very likely to release a high pressure combination of steam and radiator fluid that can cause very serious burns.

* Check the coolant level and add coolant (or water in a pinch) if it’s low.

* Get your car into a service facility as soon as possible. In overheating situations it’s often better to call a tow truck than to risk engine damage.

Overheating can be catastrophic for your cars engine but can usually be avoided by properly maintaining your vehicle and keeping a watchful eye on that temperature gauge while driving. Proper maintenance and quick thinking can help reduce engine damage.

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The Confusing Check Engine Light – Should You Be Concerned?

Most drivers have at some point been frustrated by the Check Engine Light in their car. Your driving along in your car and suddenly a yellow light illuminates on your dash telling you to check or service your engine. If you’re like most car owners, you are not sure what this light is telling you or exactly how you should react.

The “Check Engine Light” is the most misunderstood indicator on your dashboard, and can mean many different things from a loose gas cap to a seriously misfiring engine.  The Check Engine Light is part of the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system which monitors vehicle performance, regulating such variables as engine speed (RPM),  fuel mixture and ignition timing.  In some cars the computer also tells the automatic transmission when to shift.

When the computer finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t correct the computer turns on the “Check Engine Light”.   In addition to turning on the light the computer stores a trouble code in its memory that identifies the source of the  problem such as a malfunctioning sensor or misfiring engine.

The Warning Signs:  When to Ignore and When to Take Action

• A light that stays on briefly and then goes off can most likely be ignored.
• A constant ON Check Engine Light, in the absence of other symptoms, could be an emissions failure which could be anything from a loose gas cap to a bad oxygen sensor or indicate a failure withing  your emission system.   This condition should be diagnosed as soon as you can get your car into the repair shop.
  

• When the Check Engine Light flashes the problem could be major and result in serious damage to your car.  STOP and pull over immediately and get your car to a professional to have the problem diagnosed.

Exactly what your “Check Engine Light” looks like  depends on the make, model and year of  your car.   It may be labeled “Check Engine”, “Service Engine Soon” or “Check Powertrain” or it may even be nothing more than a picture of an engine with the word “Check” .

Pinnacle Automotive Service can diagnose your check engine light and make any needed repairs to get you back on the road quickly and safely.   We also offer local towing service in the Greater Raleigh area if you get stranded.

Source: consumerguide.org

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