Mopar® Offers 10 Tips for Spring Vehicle Maintenance

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• Chrysler Group dealers offer highly skilled, specially trained technicians to tackle car-care needs
• Mopar® brand's alliance with Magneti Marelli allows Chrysler Group dealerships to service competitive makes including GM, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia
• Chrysler Group service and maintenance savings information available at www.mopar.com/service

With hot-weather driving around the corner, spring is primetime for vehicle maintenance.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120328/DE77274 )

"Now is the time for motorists to ensure that their vehicles are in shape for summer driving," said Jim Sassorossi, Head of Product Development and Sales at Mopar®, Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand. "The safety, performance and life of a vehicle hinges on preventive maintenance.

"Customers who own a Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT®, Jeep®, Ram or SRT® vehicle may have it professionally serviced by specially trained technicians in our dealerships," said Sassorossi. "And with our alliance with Magneti Marelli, we also service competitive makes including GM, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia."

For information on how Chrysler Group dealers can help service your vehicle, including info on service contracts, rebates and parts and services specials, visit www.mopar.com/service.

10 Mopar Maintenance Tips

Check Brakes

Brakes are one of the most used (and often abused) components. A thin layer of the brake pad disintegrates every time the brakes are applied. It's vital to replace pads or shoes before drums or rotors become damaged. Check pads, shoes, drums, rotors, calipers, fittings, brake hardware and parking brake to prevent problems.

Check Tires

A smooth and safe ride starts when the rubber meets the road. Check air pressure on all tires, including the spare, as improper tire pressure leads to premature wear and a decrease in fuel mileage. The entire surface of the tire, both tread and sidewall, should be inspected for uneven or irregular wear. Excessive edge wear, center wear and shoulder wear may be signs that other maintenance is required.

Check Wiper Blades

Be prepared for spring showers and summer storms. Properly functioning wiper blades increase visibility in all conditions. Mopar all-season wiper blades are made from an all-metal superstructure that provides durability and reliable performance, featuring an innovative wear indicator that gradually turns from black to green to yellow as the blades wear.

Check Headlamps, Tail lamps, Turn signals and Hazard Lights

Properly functioning headlamps and tail lamps play an important role in safe driving, especially at nighttime, or in rainy or foggy conditions. Inspect and test all exterior lamps and lights, including turn signals and hazard lights to ensure they are in proper working order and alignment.

Check Air Filter

The air filter is one of the unsung heroes of a vehicle, as it protects the engine from airborne contaminants. Poor air flow within the engine hinders performance and can lead to greater fuel consumption. Replacing a dirty air filter allows clean, unrestricted air flow into the engine and helps ensure proper performance and longer life.

Check Oil

Oil is the lifeblood of the engine. Engine oil level should be checked often, with the oil being changed and replenished regularly. Low or dirty oil may have dire consequences on how the engine and its components perform, especially under the extreme heat and conditions of summer driving.

Check All Fluid Levels

With the increase in miles driven during warm-weather months, vehicle fluids and lubricants should be checked often and changed at factory-recommended intervals to make sure they're fresh and filled. Dirty fluids and low fluids may affect the performance of a vehicle and can lead to breakdowns if not properly monitored and filled.

Check Engine Belts, Hoses and Fuel Filter

Belts and hoses under the hood play an important part in the proper function and performance of the engine. Prevent breakdowns or serious engine damage by replacing belts and hoses at recommended intervals. Quality-tested Mopar belts and hoses offer precision fit, optimal service life and original-equipment performance. Checking and replacing the fuel filter is also key to ensuring that the engine is running at its optimal level and maximizes fuel economy.

Check Battery

Following a winter full of cold-morning starts, definitely check the battery. Having reserve power to run the air conditioning and other vehicle accessories in the summer is priceless. When checking the battery, be sure to look for corroded terminals, and inspect for a bulging or cracked case.

Check Shocks & Struts

Following the traditional cold-weather pothole season, shocks and struts should be checked. Shocks and struts are vital to a smooth ride and may also affect a number of related parts on your vehicle. Mopar shocks and struts optimize vehicle handling, tire life and keep vehicles riding smoothly.

Mopar-First Features

Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:

• Vehicle-information 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
• Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot
• Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters
• 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car
• Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers
• 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 and distributes 280,000 parts and accessories. With the creation of the Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A. partnership, Mopar is extending its global reach, integrating service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance dealer and customer support worldwide. Combined with Fiat S.p.A., Mopar's global portfolio includes more than 500,000 parts and accessories which are distributed in more than 120 countries. Mopar is the source for all genuine parts and accessories for Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A. brands.

Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A. 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.

75 Years of Mopar

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for antifreeze product in 1937. 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. The brand has expanded to include technical assistance and customer support.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC