It seems that tires pop at the most inconvenient times, it should almost be considered a rule of law. You’re already late for your appointment, and your car decides to give you trouble. If you know anything about vehicle maintenance, learning how to replace a tire is top priority, since it saves you the trouble of calling AAA, and it can usually be done in less than 15 minutes. First, pull to the side of the road in a safe area away from the other vehicles. Put up flares if needed, and put on your emergency lights. Don’t forget to put your vehicle in the park position!

Grab the spare tire, a jack, lug-nut key, flashlight (if at night), leverage pipe, lug-nut wrench and screwdriver. Keep these items in your vehicle at all times. In newer cars, you do not need to remove the hubcap to gain access to the lug nuts, but if so, take it off with a screwdriver. Take the lug-nut wrench, and loosen, but do not remove, the lug-nuts on the flat (lefty-loosy, righty-tighty). Put the jack in place, and jack up the vehicle. Take off the lug nuts, and remove the tire. Place the lug nuts in a safe spot, and put the useless tire away in the trunk. Put the spare on, then tighten the lug nuts, making sure to use a crisscross pattern so the wheel goes on straight. Put the hubcap back on if necessary. Try not to drive too far in a spare, since they are not meant for long term driving, and go to a tire shop as soon as you can.

 Learning how to replace a flat is one of the most useful things you should know as a car owner! You will be glad you do.

The 2011 Pilot knows that you live on the go. What do you need? Plenty of space, that’s what! A power tailgate with a lift-up glass hatch helps the loading process “loads”! As any great weekend vehicle can attest, towing is a breeze for boats or RVs, up to 4,500 pounds. And for the eight passengers, there are plenty of seating configurations to make the most of your space.

Packed with convenient technology for active families, the Pilot knows what you’re up against. The Voice Recognition Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System will get you to where you want to go! Bluetooth enabled and most importantly, air conditioning, makes families enjoy where they are going. Maybe you won’t hear “Are we there yet?” as often as you’d think!

The FCX Clarity fuel cell-electric will be racing in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 25-27. It is a hydrogen fuel celled vehicle currently limited to retail in Southern California. The FCX Clarity is on the front line for zero emission vehicles by Honda. Its efficiency is 3x greater than that of a gasoline powered car.

There are pace races that the FCX Clarity is involved in for the IZOD IndyCar Series, the Acura Sports Car Challenge, and the Firestone Indy Lights Event. The FCX Clarity will be featured in the parade on March 24^th in St. Petersburg with the IZOD IndyCar series vehicles.

The FCX Clarity is available for a $600 a month lease for three years from Honda, the first step in mass marketing for fuel cell technology. It can be refueled in less than 5 minutes, and can operate in sub freezing temperatures, besides (2003). In 2005, it was the first fuel cell vehicle in the hands of a customer, offering the world an alternative vehicle that could make even Mother Earth happy.

Is your car stalling on a busy mountainside road? Did you blow a tire? If you have to pull over to the side of the road, there are some things you need to know to be safe.

First off, make sure your car is in a safe area, when possible, so that it is not obstructing traffic in any way. Put on your emergency lights, and get out of the vehicle. Always have a working flashlight and fresh batteries. Have a jumper cable handy, especially for older cars, to jump your car back to life, without having to call AAA, or wait for a nice person with their own jumper cable to help. If you find yourself in a ditch after you just fish tailed, a tow rope will definitely come in handy. Emergency flashers may be necessary at night if the shoulder is narrow. You never know when you might need emergency supplies, such as a blanket, bottled water, and some packaged snacks to get you through. Last but not least, you never know when duct tape may come in handy!

Be prepared for emergencies, and you may still be panicked, but you will at least know what you can do to be safe.

Dog’s noses and children’s fingers tends to leave window visibility a little wanting. Clean windows are important for safe driving with clear visibility. It is state law to not have anything obstruct your vision when driving, and clean windows are just at the top of the list.

First off, make sure that your glass cleaner is safe for your car’s windows. If you have tinted windows, watch out for ammonia-based glass cleaners, since it will damage the tint. Make sure your glass cleaner has the labels “ammonia-free” and “safe for tinted windows.” A very simple way to clean windows is plain water, scrubbing with a microfiber towel to get off those tough stains. A popular cleaner is KP Krystal Vision Glass Cleaner for those tougher stains. Also, try to wash your windows in the shade, as the sun tends to make the cleaner evaporate too quickly on the windows. Keep these tips in mind when washing your vehicle’s windows.

The truth is, few things frustrate us more than car repair. It’s for that reason that we need to differentiate the difference between frustrating one’s and a quick fix. We depend on our car’s so heavily (some say 2nd only to our phones) that any interruption in the norm can be gut wrenching.

If your going down the road and a tire flies off into the next lane, that is a frustrated / fearful moment. A blown fuse on the other hand is more of a chance to show off your mechanical prowess. Depending on your car it is typically on the bottom of the dashboard on the drivers side. This is something you probably want to familiarize yourself with before you need it, at night when the fuse for the overhead light is off could be a bad time to try and figure it out.

In your car’s owners manual (If you didn’t keep that because it took up to much room in your glove box than a quick trip to the dealer might be in order) and it will tell you which fuse is the culprit. Most car’s come with spare fuses or you can generally buy them for less than a Starbucks coffee.
Pull it out and examine to see if the small metal connection on the inside is together than your all set. If not, simply replace it with the new one you have. It is the same theory as a light bulb, if the inside looks burned out, it probably is.  Many car’s still use glass fuses which are a bit more bulky and will require that you slip them in one side at a time. Push on the metal end and not the center. Small fingers help with this type.

One last thought, it is typically a good idea to keep some spares if you don’t have any. This may seem like no big deal when your just around the corner from the dealer where you can get more, this is not true at 2 in the morning on a deserted road.

America’s most popular eight-passenger minivan is back and better than ever! Starting late September, the new 2011 Honda Odyssey is available for test drives at Carmichael Honda.

The 2011 Odyssey has unparalleled aerodynamics for better fuel economy and features three seating configurations for the second row. The Odyssey also comes equipped with a “wide mode” seating that allows seats to move sideways, and a comfort slide feature so that an infant seat can be moved almost six inches closer to the front row.

Keeping family function in mind, the 2011 Honda Odyssey a new center console between the first row seats is large enough to hold a purse and a “cool box” for storing six 12-ounce cans or four 20-ounce bottles are just some of the family-functional jewels the Odyssey has to offer.

Fueled by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine and a three-mode variable cylinder management system, it’s the smooth ride and expanded interior features that have everyone talking.

The 2011 Honda Odyssey will be available at Carmichael Honda in late September. For more information on the 2011 Honda Odyssey or to schedule a test drive, call (916) 969-6151 or visit Carmichael Honda on the web at www.carmichaelhonda.com.

Honda Dealer of Citrus Heights California!

The dollar is making a comeback at Carmichael Honda!!

Feel free to come in and test drive the new 2010 Honda Accord Cross Tour or the 2010 Civic Sedan at Carmichael Honda! At Carmichael Honda you’ll enjoy “hassle free” customer care that can help you get into the car of your dreams!! With a large array of new or used vehicles, Carmichael Honda is hands down the best place to shop for the car that fits your lifestyle and financial needs!

Carmichael Honda is now running it’s 2010 Clearance Sale Event! For the first time ever, Carmichael Honda is offering 0.9% APR, for 24-60 mo and $0 down and $0 due at signing for well qualified buyers. Go to carmichaelhonda.com to check out our limited time only offers online, and shop around for the best deal that suits you! Carmichael Honda is located at 6151 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights, CA

Come get a great deal today at Carmichael Honda!

CALL US:

916.969.6151

800.488.4333

or email us

Carmichael Honda is pleased to announce that it carries one of the most forward thinking alternative cars available today. The Honda Civic GX NVG is what the future holds for automotive technology. This isn’t simply a companies hat toss into the ring of “green” vehicles. This is the latest evolution from a  company that is the dominant force in the fuel efficient vehicles.

This is not a car that is over priced and unreliable. It is rated as one of the top in its class in looks, power and price. Here is the test drive photo gallery to prove the looks part, but lets dig a little deeper on the topic of power. The official read is 113 horsepower 1.8-liter SOHC 16-valve i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed automatic transmission with grade logic control, front disc brakes, EPA-certified Tier-2 Bin-2, ILEV, CARB-certified AT-PZEV. The non tech translation is that its zippy and nimble. If your like us and you like an interior that is as good looking as it is functional than the Civic will make you very happy. The concern we have heard from some people is they worry about it breaking down. Honda offers a great warranty on it as well.  All this can be had for less than $25,000.00 and with the fact that natural gas as a fuel is considerably less expensive than gasoline, it will continue to be a great investment.