Blog

Using a clay bar to detail your own vehicle is a vital part to car ownership. That is why we here at Matt Burne Honda wanted to be sure you knew the basics. The process begins by spraying a lubricant on a small area of the exterior of your car. You then press the clay into this area and pull it up to remove contaminants. Then, you repeat this process over and over again until you've removed all dirt and debris from the exterior of your car.

The frequency of cleanings is dependent upon where you typically drive. Those…

When the brakes in your vehicle are about to fail, you will get a soft brake pedal to give you a warning that you need to get the situation addressed as quickly as possible.

As soon as the brakes feel spongy, it is time to have an expert take a closer look at the brakes. This could be the result of air trapped inside the lines, and they will need to be bled by an expert to alleviate the issue.

The next thing that could be occurring with the spongy brakes is that the brake lines are damaged. Whether leaking…

One of the reasons that lead-acid batteries continue to dominate the automotive battery market is their ability to withstand very wide swings in temperature. Whether desert heat or arctic cold, a good performing car battery can be reliable for years of service in extreme conditions. However, when a battery begins to approach its end of life, the window of operating temperatures begins to narrow.

The chemical reactions taking place inside the cells of an automotive battery are mostly independent of temperature. However, as water is one of the primary ingredients in the lead-acid...

Brake fluid is much like motor oil in that both fluids are required for your vehicle to operate correctly. One major difference is that brake fluid doesn’t need to be replaced as often as motor oil, which is why so many drivers tend to forget about brake fluid. Stop at Matt Burne Honda and let your service technicians check your brake fluid.

Brake or hydraulic fluid plays a major role in making your brakes work. When you step on the brake pedal, the brake fluid flows through the brake lines to the brake pedal, which makes the vehicle gradually…

Both towing and payload are based on the strength of your truck's frame and its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, but they aren't the same, despite what many truck owners think. Towing capacity is simply what your truck can pull, and payload is how much weight the truck can support inside. Simple, but do you really need that information? Yes. You do.

Here's the deal. If your truck has a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, that doesn't mean it can carry that much. The payload may be less than half of that, and if you put…

Have you ever seen a powertrain warranty on a new or old vehicle and wondered what that covered? The powertrain warranty is one of the more essential warranties, especially if you are buying a used car. This type of warranty covers the engine and transmission, two of the most expensive parts of the car to replace. Typically, these warranties last 12 months or longer.

In addition, the bumper-to-bumper warranty is important. This covers everything between the bumpers, for the most part. Every bumper-to-bumper warranty should be checked before signing as dealerships can add or remove...

In addition to a voltmeter, to test the car battery, you'll need a wire brush, work gloves, and safety eye-wear. Open the car hood and turn the engine off. Clean any corrosion off the battery terminals with the wire brush.

Place the red cable of the voltmeter to the positive battery terminal, then the black cable to the car battery's negative side. Turn the meter on, it should be at the 12.4 mark or better if the car battery has the ability to hold a charge still. When the reading is at or below the 12.2…

Over time, there have become some rumors that have been created. Many of these rumors began as a way to convince customers to bring their vehicle into a mom and pop oil change shop more frequently as a money maker. Our dealership prides itself of how honest we are with our customers and we want to make sure your vehicle is properly taken care of. Let's take a look at some common motor oil myths that you might not be aware of:

• There are not different oil regulations and recommendations in different countries. If you are dealing with a…

You should get the best out of your windshield wiper blades with the proper support against your windshield. When you have poor vision, it can cause you to become a liability to yourself, others motorist, or your own passengers. Unfortunately, not all blades were designed to fit every vehicle. You can find yourself squinting your eyes against the glare of oncoming traffic with a dirty windshield. Don't become a liability on the road by endangering yourself with poor visuals in the winter. Transfer your poor windshield wiper blades with one of many popular winter models. 

Is your vehicle pulling to one side while you are driving? Is there a vibration or some other type of back-and-forth movement in your steering wheel? If so, it may be time for an alignment of the vehicle's suspension system.

If the wheels are not aligned properly, your vehicle can become difficult to steer and control and make your ride less comfortable. The tires will not contact the road as efficiently and may trigger safety issues. The constant pulling to one side will cause the tires to wear unevenly, which will mean having to replace them sooner than expected…