April Is National Car Care Month

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- With the summer driving season coming up, spring is the time to spring for vehicle maintenance.

"Preventative maintenance is the key to maintaining optimum performance for your vehicle," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO – Mopar® Service, Parts and Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand.

"Simple routine maintenance is the way to avoid future costly repairs and keep your vehicle on the road longer," said Gorlier. "And for your car, it's important to stick with the specialists. For our Ram, Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep® vehicles, we highly recommend that all general maintenance and repairs are done by qualified, factory-trained technicians in our dealerships."

Car Care Council Inspections

A compilation of results from community car-care events performed nationally by the Car Care Council (www.carcare.org) – a consumer-focused organization that educates the driving public on the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair – found that 80 percent of vehicles inspected experienced at least one part or system failure. The recent survey revealed the following:

54 percent of cars had low tire pressure

38 percent had low or dirty engine oil

28 percent had inadequate cooling protection

19 percent needed new belts

16 percent had dirty air filters

10 percent had low or contaminated brake fluid

Six Mopar Maintenance Tips

Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand, recommends six simple maintenance actions to take this spring. In addition to these tips, drivers should always follow the recommended maintenance schedule in their specific vehicle's owner's manual.

Check Tires

Air pressure should be checked on all tires including the spare. Tread and sidewall areas should be inspected for uneven or irregular wear and tires should be replaced if worn or damaged. A wide assortment of brand-name tires is available from Mopar, including B.F. Goodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Michelin, Uniroyal and Yokohama.

Check Fluid Levels

After a long cold winter, engine oil should be changed. All vehicle fluids and lubricants should be checked regularly and changed at recommended intervals. A good fuel filter traps contaminants before they reach the engine. For diesel engines, Mopar offers a 7-micron diesel fuel filter to keep water from contaminating injector pumps and fuel injectors.

Check Engine Belts and Hoses

Take a proactive approach to prevent a breakdown or serious engine damage by replacing belts and hoses at recommended intervals. Authentic Mopar belts and hoses undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet stringent quality standards and offer precision fit, optimal service life and original- equipment performance.

Change Air Filter

Engines need to breathe. Restrict the supply of air and they won't work as well as they should--something that's usually reflected in higher fuel consumption. A new air filter will allow clean, unrestricted air flow into the engine and help ensure proper performance and longer life.

Check Battery

Whether it's the first start up in the morning or having the reserve power to run the air conditioning and other accessories, the battery is a critical source. Drivers should have batteries tested and replaced if necessary.

Check Wiper Blades

For optimal visibility and quiet operation, Mopar all-season wiper blades are built for the long haul and feature a strong, all-metal superstructure for durable, reliable performance. An innovative wear indicator gradually turns from black to green to yellow as the blades wear.

Mopar Service Specials

Mopar is currently offering featured service specials just in time for spring and summer driving seasons including:

• 10 percent discounts on various repair services
• Engine oil and filter change, new air filter and 16-point vehicle checkup
• Engine oil and filter change, tire rotation along with a 23-point vehicle checkup and Value Line brake pads/shoes

Rebates From Mopar

To help smooth out a vehicle's ride and handling after battling winter-weather elements, Mopar is offering rebates on select Goodyear tires (up to $70 per set of four), Value Line shocks ($10 per pair) and Value Line struts ($20 per pair).

For more information and to find a Ram, Dodge, Chrysler or Jeep® dealer, visit www.mopar.com

About Chrysler Group LLC

Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Ram, Dodge, Chrysler or Jeep brand vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete effectively on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler's culture of innovation — first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 — and Fiat's complementary technology.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., the Chrysler Group product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Challenger and Ram 1500. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small and medium-size cars, allowing the Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

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About Mopar

Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original equipment parts for Ram, Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Ram, Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles, a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide.

More Than 70 Years of Mopar

When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle-car era. The former Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth "package cars" equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of "special parts" for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division, called Mopar Performance Parts, in order to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC