Mopar® Announces Car-Care Checklist for Cold-weather Driving Season

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

• Ten items to check before winter
• Mopar® services Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram, SRT and Fiat vehicles
• With the addition of Magneti Marelli parts, Mopar also services competitive makes
• Mopar now offers full menu of all-season, winter and performance tires
• Mopar Service Clinic offers free vehicle inspections and dealership tours at select Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Fiat dealerships

Before winter settles in, fall is the time for owners to get their vehicles into shape.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111004/DE79644)

"Now is the time to prepare your vehicle for the upcoming winter-driving season," said Jim Sassorossi, Head of Sales and Product Development at Mopar®, Chrysler Group's service, parts and customer-care brand. "Preventative maintenance helps vehicles perform at optimum levels in a variety of conditions.

"With original-equipment Mopar parts, our factory-trained technicians provide full service to Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram, SRT and Fiat vehicles," Sassorossi added. "And with the addition of proven, quality-tested parts from Magneti Marelli, we also service all domestic and most import vehicles as well."

Mopar's Fall Car-Care Checklist

1: Brakes

Summer travel gives brake pads a heavy workout, resulting in the removal of thin layers. Now is the time to check pads, shoes, rotors, drums, calipers, wheel cylinders, brake hardware and the parking brake for wear and tear.

2: Tires

Closely inspect the tread and sidewall areas of tires for uneven or irregular wear. In addition, excessive edge wear, center wear and shoulder wear can act as an indicator for other trouble spots on your vehicle. It's also important to ensure correct air pressure at all times in order to prevent premature wear. Be sure to check the spare as well. If replacements are needed, Mopar offers a complete lineup of tires and winter tires from BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kelly, Kumho, Michelin, Uniroyal and Yokohama brands.

3: Battery

Summer heat does the most damage to battery life and is why they often fail in the winter. Check for corroded terminals and a bulging or cracked case. Test and replace battery if necessary.

4: Wiper Blades

Winter driving conditions challenge your ability to see the road. Mopar's lineup of wiper blades now includes Beam Blades, which provide superior all-weather performance and aid driving visibility. The wiper blades boast a skin coating that seals the aerodynamic spoiler in order to protect it from winter weather. Mopar Beam Blades also are constructed to eliminate exposed parts and to resist snow- and ice-clogging.

5: Shocks and Struts

For motorists located in cold and snowy climates, fall and winter also usher in a dreaded time of year: pothole season. Shocks and struts are the most overlooked service parts on a vehicle, but they affect ride control and comfort and can also affect a number of related parts. Mopar shocks and struts optimize vehicle handling, tire life and keep vehicles riding smoothly.

6: Engine Oil

Ensure your engine oil has the correct viscosity in order to endure cold weather. Engine oil should be changed or replenished at recommended intervals. Low or dirty fluids affect how an engine and its components perform and could potentially cause engine damage under extreme conditions.

7: Fluid Levels

All vehicle fluids and lubricants should be checked and changed at factory-recommended intervals. Key fluids include antifreeze/coolant level and concentration, as well as power steering, brake, transmission and windshield washer fluids.

8: Engine Belts and Hoses

Replace belts and hoses at recommended intervals. Quality-tested Mopar belts and hoses offer precision fit, optimal service life and original-equipment performance.

9: Air Filter

The air filter is designed to protect your engine from airborne contaminants. Poor air flow to the engine inhibits performance and generates greater fuel consumption. A new air filter allows clean, unrestricted air flow into the engine and helps ensure proper performance for a longer life.

10: Headlamps and Taillamps

Days become shorter in the fall and winter, meaning more nighttime driving and increased usage of headlamps and taillamps. Inspect and test all lamps on your vehicle to ensure proper function and proper alignment.

Mopar Fall Service Specials and Rebates

Mopar has a full slate of fall service specials and mail-in rebates on tap for consumers, including:

• $70 rebates on select sets of four Goodyear premium tires
• $20 rebates per set of any other four Goodyear tires
• $20 rebates per set of two Value Line struts
• $10 rebates per set of two Value Line shocks
• $2.50 rebates per each Value Line wiper blade (applicable for all makes and models)
• At select Chrysler Group dealerships, one special low price for three services: oil and filter change, Mopar Value Line wiper blades and multipoint vehicle checkup, plus a 10 percent discount on needed repairs
• At select Chrysler Group dealerships, customers can take advantage of the Mopar Service Clinic, a program that offers free vehicle inspections in October and November

Mopar-First Features

Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:

• Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers
• Vehicle-information smartphone apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers
• Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format
• Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to introduce new vehicle tracking system that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on set parameters
• 2011 Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car
• WiFi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot
• Brand-specific customer-care telephone lines: first to offer Sunday service hours to customers
• WiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network

About the Mopar Brand

Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand.

Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles — a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.com.

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 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 to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC