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Here at Southgate Lincoln we understand the importance of car maintenance and service. We also try to help car owners understand the basic function of things like brake pads. Spotting the signs of bad brake pads could help you save money in the long run.

Your car's brake pads are perhaps the most important component of the entire braking system. When brake pads become worn they can place stress on other brake parts like rotors and cause damage. Brake pads are used to create friction when they make contact with the rotor. That friction is what slows your car…

At Southgate Lincoln we like to keep you informed. Jump starting a vehicle is an important skill to know for situations when your car doesn't start, and carrying a set of jumper cables in your car is a smart idea. It's also nice to be able to help other people who are stranded on the road.

Simple Jump Start Procedures

First, locate the battery or access terminals on each vehicle. Park each vehicle close enough to each other that the jumper cables reach both batteries. 

Here at Southgate Lincoln, we like to help car owners get more out of their tires. One important way of getting this done is to regularly rotate vehicle tires. Drivers who do so can greatly increase the life of the sipes and groove in their tire treads.

Grooves and sipes are special patterns cut into tires that extend surface area and promote traction and control. Grooves are the deeper tread valleys that often allow for water removal, and sipes are the thinner and shallower channels cut into the grooves. Grooves and sipes that wear evenly can increase vehicle occupant safety…

Roadside emergencies happen, and there is never a good time for one. Specific circumstances make particular emergencies worse than others. To preserve your safety, you must take smart preparatory steps to protect yourself and any passengers.

Keeping clear of traffic serves as a critical way of improving safety. Standing too close to both a disabled car and traffic is dangerous. If the car is on the side of the road, it becomes easier to avoid traffic. If you can't move the vehicle, move yourself to safety.  

An exhaust leak can ultimately be a major safety concern for you and your passengers. The end result of an exhaust leak can even be fatal if the issue is not resolved. For this reason, it is important to know what symptoms you should look out for.

If you hear hissing or popping noises, this is the biggest indication that something is wrong with your exhaust system. It is important to observe the sounds that your vehicle makes when the engine is running to determine the extent of the issue. 

Gasoline and diesel engine blocks in passenger vehicles are paired with air filters. Combustion occurs at optimal levels only when the correct amount of fuel is mixed with oxygen. The intake system of a powertrain is engineered to draw a specific volume of oxygen from the surroundings. However, debris and pollen can quickly clog sensitive parts inside the combustion chambers of a vehicle.

Drivers should understand the significance of having a clean air filter under the hood. First of all, horsepower and torque production is maximized when the filtration system is clean.  

Salt on the road is meant to help drivers stay safe while they are out on the road. The concept is that the salt will melt any ice that may come as a result of snow. This is great for keeping people safe, but it also means the potential for salt corrosion.

Make sure you avoid large puddles of standing water on the roads when driving on roads that have been salted. These puddles are where a lot of that salt tends to gather. It can splash up on your vehicle quite easily if you are not careful, and this…

Unless you have an original antique vehicle which you use to move around town, you do not have any form of the original acetylene or oil headlights used way back when. The headlights that you use on your modern vehicle is dubbed as either "standard," "halogen," or "light emitting diodes" (LED).

At Southgate Lincoln, we carry all the components for every one of these headlights. The standard headlight, a sealed-beam unit that uses a filament engulfed in a nitrogen-argon gas came standard on all vehicles until 1960.  

Knowing how to change a flat tire is important for saving time and money. You don't want to be delayed when you have a meeting, a special event, or you need to be at work on time. At Southgate Lincoln, we care about our customers, so whether you want to change a tire on your own or let us handle it, we're here to help. To change a flat tire, you must:

1. Park in a safe place if possible where your car is on level ground and not on grass or dirt.
2. Turn off the car, engage the…

We here at Southgate Lincoln know that needing service for your vehicle is never a convenient situation. Because of this, we try to make sure that your vehicle is always working correctly by way of routine maintenance and inspections. When it comes to your exhaust, we take a look at this system during a routine visit. In between appointments, you might notice that there is an issue going on with your exhaust because you will notice:

• A vibrating gas pedal
• A leak from your exhaust pipe