5 Things to Be Thankful for on Christmas

Christmas is almost here! But while we get caught in the middle of excitements and happy gatherings, let us take a moment to reflect and be thankful of all the good things. Sometimes we get blinded by the meaning of Christmas that we simply focus on gifts, what to give and what to receive. We tend to concentrate on material things and we fail to see those that are more meaningful. As I am writing this letter, I think about those who are homeless, lost, hurting sick or orphaned and how they will find the meaning to Christmas, given that most of them have no family or home to celebrate in. No matter what your circumstance is, here are 5 things that you can be thankful for this Christmas.

1. Good Health

Good health is something that we rarely appreciate, but the moment we get sick, we so crave for it that we are willing to exchange our richness for it. If you enjoy good health this Christmas, thank God for it. However, if you are suffering from a sickness, thank God for the hope of healing.

2. Families and Friends

Unless our families and friends are safe and in good health, we´re not completely happy, therefore be thankful this Christmas that they´re safe and sound. They are our treasures. If any of your family and friends are suffering this Christmas, pray for them and encourage them to trust God to keep them safe.

3. Your Job

You work for a wonderful family at Dimmitt Chevrolet. You work for a family who cares about you, your family and the community. You work for a dealership that does everything they do with honesty and integrity, which, unfortunately, doesn’t happen in many other dealerships. A good job is a gift, so perform at your finest and give thanks for it.

4. Your Freedom 

The freedom to live, to do things that you want, and the freedom to practice your religion is one of those best gifts. Think of those who are oppressed, or those who spend their Christmas behind bars, they wish they have your freedom. Be thankful for it.

5. Your Possessions

I have more than I need and I´m thankful for it. All of our material things are a gift from God and the fruit of our hard work and they are something worth thanking for. I have learned that looking on the underprivileged instead of those above me makes me appreciate more what I have.

So, during this Christmas take the time to reflect on those things in your life you have been so blessed with. Your faith, your families, your good health and the privilege it is working for such an outstanding company that believes in its people, doing everything with integrity and having faithful gratitude for the success we have. I wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe, prosperous and Happy New Year!

Help Chevrolet in the fight to end breast cancer

Chevrolet is teaming up with the American Cancer Society to fight for a world without breast cancer, and you can help! 

Learn about all the ways Chevrolet is joining in the fight:

1. Chevrolet is donating $10 to the American Cancer Society for every vehicle test drive at Dimmitt Chevrolet, up to a maximum contribution of $130,000!
   
2. Dimmitt Chevrolet is also being given the option to donate our service rebate and Chevrolet will match donations up to $150,000.
   
3. Finally, keep an eye out for the pink Camaro, which will once again be the pace car for the NASCAR race in Atlanta on September 2nd. Two hundred dollars from each caution lap the Camaro makes will support ACS!

To learn more about Chevrolet's efforts, visit Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Get $10 off any regular service of $50.00 or more when you present this eCoupon!

 

Visit Dimmitt Chevrolet's Facebook page and “like” us to print this eCoupon! Just navigate to the "Offers" tab on the top of the page for access our monthly eCoupons and more!

Join us for the 5th Annual Thanks Troops Golf Classic!

Please join us on Friday, Sept. 6th at 9:30 a.m. for the Fifth Annual Thanks Troops Golf Classic. Dimmitt Chevrolet is proud to sponsor this great event to benefit our nation's wounded veterans.

When: Friday, September 6, 2013, Patriot Day, 9:30 AM Shotgun
Where: Crescent Oaks Golf Club, Tarpon Springs
Format: Four-Person Scramble, PAR is your friend
Entry Fee: $175 per player includes golf and cart fees, breakfast served by McDonald’s, three lunches on the golf course (one by Chili’s, one by LRE ground services and one by Frankie Van Da Boe), four liquor companies serving shots and vodka, and sit down banquet.

Maintenance Tip Monday - Check Your Brakes

Your brakes are the single most important safety feature on your car. Don't put yourself or your family at risk this summer by riding around on worn down or faulty brakes.

Brakes need to be replaced when the lining on your brake pad or brake shoe is worn down past the minimum thickness specified by the car manufacturer or state law.  You can have your brake linings checked at any normal service shop or at a brake specialist.

Here are some signs that your brakes need to be checked:

• Your brake pedal becomes very soft and mushy
• Your brake pedal is very hard and resistant
• Your brake pedal rests too low or too high
• Indication or warning lights on the dashboard
• Loud and constant scraping and grinding sounds coming from the brakes

Interestingly, squealing brakes are not necessarily a sign of a problem. Brakes squeal and squeak for a wide variety of reasons, including moisture on the brake pads, discs, shoes and drums. You should only become concerned if the squealing becomes a scraping or grinding noise. This is a sign of metal-to-metal contact, which can permanently damage brake parts.

If you notice a brake problem, it pays to have it inspected or repaired as soon as possible. The cost of a brake repair can increase dramatically if even minor problems aren't fixed in a timely manner.

Courtesy of howstuffworks.com

Maintenance Tip Monday - Air Filter

Over the winter, your car's air filter can get clogged with salt and other thick debris. A clogged air filter can really lower your fuel efficiency. Replacing a dirty or clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.

But how do you know when to change your air filter? The recommended interval is every 12,000 miles (19,312 kilometers), but that can be affected by the particular road and air conditions in which you drive. If you do a lot of driving on dirt or gravel roads, then your air filter is going to clog up 
much faster than an air filter in a vehicle that's used strictly for highway driving. The only real way to know if you need to replace your air filter is take it out and give it a quick inspection.

Interestingly, a slightly dirty air filter works better than a totally clean one.   This is because the debris in the filter becomes part of the filtering process, trapping smaller particles that might have otherwise slipped past.

There's no real science to knowing when it's time to replace the filter. If it's really filthy, then it obviously needs to be changed. Otherwise, go with your gut. If you're preparing for a long summer of hard driving, then you might as well replace it. Air filters are relatively inexpensive.

Courtesy of  auto.howstuffworks.com

Keep working hard Chris, you earned us another five star review!

"Our sales associate was Chris Nance, he was outstanding. We purchased a 2014 Impala had he was extremely knowledgeable about the new car." - HappyOwner1

Click the link to read the full review on DealerRater.
Link: http://bit.ly/10pYJQC

Maintenance Tip Monday - Tires

Check Your Tires

Tires are one of the most overlooked parts of a car.  According the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), only one out of 10 drivers checks his or her tire pressure correctly, compared with almost seven out of 10 who wash their cars regularly [source: RMA].  But the truth is that an under-inflated, over-inflated, worn down or misaligned tire can be extremely dangerous, particularly in hot summer weather.

Tire pressure changes with the rising temperatures -- approximately one to two PSI (pounds per square inch) for every 10-degree increase in outside air temperature [source: RMA]. Consult your owner's manual or the sidewall of your tire to see what your tire pressure should be and check it with a hand pressure gauge or just let the guys at the service shop do it for you.

An under-inflated tire bulges outward and puts undo pressure on the sidewalls of the tire. With enough heat and pressure, that tire eventually will blow. An over-inflated tire, on the other hand, makes less contact with the road and can lead to hydroplaning in wet conditions.

Use the penny trick to see if you still have enough tread on your tires. Stick a penny in the tread, and if Lincoln's head disappears, you're good [source: CBS News]. Your local service shop or specialty tire store can also check your tires for proper alignment and balance.

And don't forget about your spare! There's no point in having a spare tire if your spare is in worse condition than the rest. Make sure the spare is properly inflated and has ample tread depth.

Courtesy of auto.howstuffworks.com

Excellent work team! We've earned another 5-Star review.

"I am very happy with the whole eperience. Was very stressful buying a new car. They made it simple in the end." - Tammie Fults

Click the link to read the full review and more on Google+ Local!

Link: http://bit.ly/YR7i6j

Maintenance Tip Monday

Lights

 

One indicator or blinker is flashing faster than the other

When you indicate one way and the blinker flashes quicker than when you indicate the other way, it means one of the bulbs has blown. An auto parts store will be able to tell you what sort of bulb you need to replace it with and your manual should show you how to get at the indicator bulbs - they're different on every car.

Don't touch the glass when changing headlight bulbs

Most headlight bulbs now are filled with halogen and have special coatings on the outside of the glass. If you pick the bulb up by the glass with your fingers, you will leave trace amounts of oil and grease on the glass. When the bulb is used, that area of the glass will get hotter than the rest and it will eventually cause the bulb to crack. When changing headlight bulbs, only hold the metal bulb holder at the base, or make sure you're wearing rubber surgical / mechanic's gloves (clean ones) if you're touching the glass.

Courtesy of Carbibles.com

Don't miss your chance to win!

Let Dimmitt Chevrolet take you out to the ballgame!  We're giving away two pairs of tickets to see the Tampa Bay Rays take on the San Francisco Giants.  Follow the link to enter for your chance to go root root root for the home team.  The contest ends on August 2nd, so don't wait to enter.  Good luck! 

Dimmitt's Thought of the Day

Dimmitt's thought for the day: The less you talk the more people listen.

Maintenance Tip Monday

Engine

 

Check your belts

At the front of your engine there will be a series of rubber drive belts that loop around various pulleys, driving everything from the alternator to the a/c compressor. Rubber perishes, more so in extreme conditions like those found in an operating engine bay. Get your timing belt and accessory drive belt checked every 25,000 miles, preferably replacing it every 50,000 miles.

Courtesy of carbibles.com

Dimmit Collision Center

Does your vehicle have unsightly cosmetic damage?  Have you been in a collision and need repairs?  Look no further than our in house body shop and our team of diligent professionals.  Click the link to learn more!

Link: http://bit.ly/14NK8Bp

Silverado: "Strong" Commercial | Chevrolet

Maintenance Tip Monday

Bodywork / paint

 

Keeping your paint finish in good condition

Only choose superior car detailing supplies to keep your car's interior and exterior like new. There are plenty of decent quality waxes and polishes on the market today and if the last time you waxed or polished your car was over a decade ago, things have changed considerably since then. The wax and polish compounds are far more sophisticated both in terms of protection from fading, the look of the finish, and the ease of application. For example Turtle Wax Ice gets rid of that old problem of white wax residue. Is a clean car a vanity thing? Partly, yes, but if you park under a tree where birds help repaint your car with recycled blueberries, that guck will come off a lot easier if it falls on a waxed paint job.

Tip: If you find a bird has pooped on your car, wash it off as quick as you can. There are compounds in bird waste that can damage most car paint jobs. If you leave it in the sun and the poop bakes on, you could end up with a dull spot in the paint.
Also: If you want to show your support for a cause, car magnets are better than bumper stickers. They don't damage the paint and are easy to move around and ultimately remove when the fad has passed.

Courtesy of carbibles.com