6 Maintenance Tips for the Non-Mechanic | Mark Mitsubishi Phoenix

Oil Level
Depending on the make, year and model of a car, the average oil change comes every 3,000 to 7,000 miles. Without proper oil maintenance, the engine may seize and constitute a much larger bill than a regularly scheduled oil change.

In between changes, check your oil by taking a rag, pulling out the dipstick and wiping it clean. Reinsert the dipstick and pull it out to get a reading on oil level. There will be markings for an acceptable range to help determine whether you need a top off or change.

Tire Pressure 
Once a month, use a tire gauge to ensure you’re maintaining a proper pressure. You can find the desired level in the owner’s manual and often in the door jam, fuel door or glove compartment.

If the pressure is too low, tires wear quicker and more gas is used. If too high, tires wear easily and have less grip on the road.

Tire Treading 
Feel the treading of your tires for any height differentiation or smooth areas. If there are any irregularities, you may be able to preserve tires for a longer period by getting them rotated. If there is extreme wearing or signs of damage, you should take your car in to a service center to avoid flat tires and other dangerous situations.

Air Filter
Owner’s manuals will have recommended timing for filter replacements to keep your car air intake and exhaust emission ideal. With a clogged filter, cars lose fuel efficiency and power. The Internet provides how-to’s in checking air filters if you’re unsure a change is required.

Car Fluids
While most people just consider gas and windshield fluid, there are a number of fluids needed to run a car, including brake fluid, engine oil, radiator/engine coolant and antifreeze, transmission fluid and power steering fluid.

All fluids can be topped off at a service station and typically are during an oil change. Washer fluid is easily filled by yourself but for other fluids, AutoUpkeep.com offers advice, recommendations and how-to’s.

Drive Time 
This is most pertinent for those storing cars for long periods of time, such as a deployment. Idle cars have to be started and run for a certain amount of time on a regular basis in order to keep everything working properly and ensure that when you return it’s ready to be used again.

A healthy battery can last up to three months without a car being started, but without a consistent start up, condensation may accumulate and rust out the engine. It’s recommended a car be started at least once a week and run for 10 to 15 minutes.

If you just don't have the patience or time you can schedule an appointment at (602) 892-3780 or online SCHEDULE SERVICE and let us take care of it for you at Mark Mitsubishi Phoenix. 

Tips for the Holiday Road Trip with Your Dog | Mark Mitsubishi Phoenix

It is time to start gearing up if you plan to bring your furry friend with you this holiday 

season. Millions will take to the roads over the Christmas period, making it one of the busiest times of year to travel. Many of us have our families spread far and wide and will be taking a trip over the festive period to share time with our loved ones.

As dog owners we don’t want to leave our furry family member alone for Christmas, as a family celebration it wouldn’t feel right not to have him involved in the festivities. Finding someone to feed your dog whilst you’re away is extremely difficult over this period, most people are too busy celebrating and enjoying their families company to pop over and feed, water and walk the dog. For many of us the only option is to take our four legged friend with us at Christmas.

Every summer we are reminded of the dangers of taking or leaving a dog in a hot car however literature on travelling with a dog in the winter is a lot less common. If you’re travelling with your dog this winter remember to consider the following to ensure he is as comfortable and safe as possible.

Keeping Warm

Whilst you and I will wrap up in hats, scarves, gloves and coats dogs only have a slightly thicker coat in the winter to keep the cold out and the heat in – winter can be bone chillingly cold. You may have the heat on in the car but the boot area where you keep your dog will be cooler than the rest of the car. Invest in a dog jacket like this fleece lined one, if you have a smaller dog or a dog who is more sensitive to heat purchase a blanket for the back of your car that he can use if he needs to.
Protecting your Dog (And You)

We’ve all heard the warnings, if you don’t wear a seatbelt and you have an accident you could injure the person in front of you or go through the windshield. Whilst most of us are sensible enough to wear a seatbelt now that we fully understand the dangers and fines have been introduced, cars don’t come fitted with a doggy-belt and his safety is as paramount as yours. Ensure you purchase either a dog car cage, dog safety harness (like a seat belt) or a dog guard. These products will not only ensure your dog’s safety but will also protect you from being distracted by your dog climbing into the front of the car – or onto your lap.

Protecting your Car
Whilst your dog may be the calmest of dogs at home, a car journey can be both exciting and traumatic for your pup. Your dog could get travel sick, away from his usual surroundings he may be unable to let you know he needs the bathroom and he may get over excited and scratch and chew at the fixtures. In order to prevent this it is best to purchase a waterproof car protector for any journey’s you take with your dog. Allow your dog to spend some time in the car protector in the house before you first take him in the car, place a couple of the dogs toys or blankets in the car protector on your first journey – the smells and toys will be familiar comforting him and making the journey less traumatic for your dog.

Things to Remember

• Antifreeze is an essential to the winter and also delicious but highly dangerous for your dog. Keep dogs away from bottles or antifreeze you may usually keep in your trunk.
• Cars in the cold do the opposite of cars in the heat – instead of an oven your car becomes a refrigeration unit. If you leave a dog in the car in the winter the temperature can plummet dangerously low.
• Do not feed your dog a large meal before taking him in the car.
• If your journey is longer than two hours make sure you stop every two hours for him to stretch his legs, use the bathroom and drink some water.
• Take your dog for a long walk before an extended drive, this will tire him out and he will be more inclined to rest and possibly sleep for the journey.

Source: http://www.petguide.com/insurance/dog/tips-for-travelling-with-your-dog-over-the-christmas-holidays/

Mitsubishi Mirage Rolls Into a New Model Year for 2017 | Mark Mitsubishi Phoenix

The new Mitsubishi Mirage enters the 2017 model year with a new exterior design, improved performance and enhanced interior appeal. Despite all that is new for Mirage in 2017, a few things didn't change at all—Mirage still offers outstanding fuel economy, attractive pricing and industry leading new vehicle and powertrain warranties.

Mirage receives a fresh new look with redesigned hood, grille, front and rear bumper, fog and headlamps, rear spoiler and wheels. The exterior styling was given purpose, with an aerodynamic design to improve fuel-efficiency and a simple, restrained form to help reduce weight, creating a car in which form and function come together. The new styling enhancements made to the 2017 Mirage give it a sleek, clean look and reduce the coefficient of drag (Cd) to 0.27.

Inside, Mirage receives a design update with new seat fabrics, gauge cluster, steering wheel and shift panel. In addition, a new available 300-watt Rockford-Fosgate™ audio system with EcoPunch™ is available with Smartphone Link Display Audio, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ the first Mitsubishi model to feature this popular infotainment system in the States.

The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage comes equipped with the following standard features:

Interior

• New front and rear seat materials
• 4-way adjustable driver's and front passenger seat
• New steering wheel with decorative bezel
• New panel design for air conditioning
• 4-speaker, 140-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system
• Keyless entry with panic feature
• New illuminated semi high-contrast combination gauge cluster (speedometer/tachometer) (SE/GT)
• High-gloss, piano-black shift panel (SE/GT)

Exterior

• New front fascia with chrome upper/lower grille
• New hood design
• LED tail lamps
• Rear spoiler
• Color-keyed front and rear bumpers, folding side-view mirrors, door handles and tailgate handle
• New 14-inch alloy wheel design; 15-inch alloy wheels (SE/GT)
• HID automatic on/off headlights (SE/GT)
• Beveled fog lamps (SE/GT)
• Colors: Wine Red, Sunrise Orange, Sapphire Blue, Infra Red, Pearl White, Mystic Black, Starlight Silver, Mercury Gray

Safety

• Advanced seven (7) air bag SRS system including driver's side knee air bag, dual-stage front air bags with occupant seat position sensors, front seat mounted side-impact air bags and front and rear curtain side air bags
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL)
• Hill Start Assist (HSA)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Engine immobilizer anti-theft security alarm system
• Mitsubishi Motors' patented Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) safety cell body construction

Warranty

• Fully transferable 5-year/60,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty
• 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty
• 7-year/100,000 mile anti-corrosion perforation limited warranty
• 5-year/unlimited mile roadside assistance

New Sleek Exterior

With its refreshed design for 2017, the Mirage features a more unique appearance with higher-quality materials. The entire front fascia has been updated to give it a bold new signature design. The new hood, wheels and rear bumper and taillights round out the new exterior design.

Two new paint colors are available: Wine Red and Sunrise Orange.

Upgraded Interior 
Several enhancements were made to the Mirage to give it a more sophisticated quality. All models feature a new redesigned steering wheel, shift panel and air conditioning panel. Additionally, the front and rear seats get new materials. Standard on SE and GT models is a new illuminated semi high-contrast combination meter.

Purposefully Aerodynamic 
The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage's outstanding efficiency is the result of a number of key design elements engineered into the vehicle. The fascia bumper features a chiseled crease for a very smooth airflow. The front tire air dam is optimized, and a rear tire air dam is added, to reduce drag resistance. The shape of the rear bumper is optimized for better air flow, while the angle of the rear spoiler has been changed to reduce lift, while the side surface is changed to reduce drag. These aero enhancements help the 2017 Mirage achieve a very low coefficient of drag at only 0.27 (Cd).

Mirage also features high-tensile steel to key sections of its body and chassis, which gives the vehicle a very low curb weight of less than one ton (1,973 lbs.) while possessing excellent structural rigidity.

Added Horsepower and Increased Brake Size 
The 2017 Mirage continues to utilize a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder DOHC engine featuring the latest version of Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) variable valve-timing system that maximizes fuel efficiency and power output while greatly minimizing exhaust emissions.

With the addition of a roller-type camshaft, Mirage increases its horsepower to 78 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 74 lb-ft torque at 4,000 rpm.

Mirage's handling and brakes are improved for 2017 as well. Optimizing the spring rate and damping the force of the shock absorbers while adding front stiffener achieve the handling and stability improvements. In addition, bigger diameter brakes are used in the front (discs), and rear (drums).

Exemplary Safety Features and Vehicle Warranty
Every 2017 Mirage comes equipped with a wide array of safety features and technologies. These include a seven (7) air bag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) comprised of dual front air bags, dual front seat-mounted side-impact air bags, dual side-impact curtain air bags, and a driver's knee air bag; 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist; a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS); and Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL). Mirage models equipped with the continuously-variable transmission-equipped (CVT) also include Hill Start Assist (HSA).

Additional protection is provided to the vehicle's occupants by Mitsubishi Motors' patented high-tech Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) impact-absorbing safety cell technology. In the event of a collision, the RISE system's energy-absorbing body structure helps to dissipate kinetic energy away from the driver and passengers.

Mirage boasts Mitsubishi's industry leading powertrain and new vehicle warranty: 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty; 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty; 7-year/100,000 mile anti-corrosion/perforation limited warranty; and 5-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance program.

Call us at (602)-892-3870 or contact us if you would like to know when the 2017 Mirage starts arriving.