Spring Vehicle Maintenance

Spring is a great time to perform some essential maintenance tasks on your vehicle to ensure that it is in good condition and ready for the warmer months ahead. Here are some springtime maintenance tasks that you should consider for your vehicle:

Check Your Tires: Check your tire pressure, tread depth, and overall condition. Make sure your tires are properly inflated, and if necessary, rotate them to ensure even wear. Consider changing to summer tires if you use winter tires during the colder months.

Change Your Oil: It’s always a good idea to change your oil regularly, and spring is a great time to do it. Fresh oil will help keep your engine running smoothly and efficiently.

Replace Your Wiper Blades: Winter weather can be tough on wiper blades, so it’s a good idea to replace them in the spring. This will ensure that you have clear visibility when it rains.

Check Your Battery: Cold weather can be hard on your car’s battery, so it’s important to have it checked in the spring. Make sure the battery terminals are clean and free of corrosion, and replace your battery if it’s more than three years old.

Check Your Fluids: Check your vehicle’s fluids, including coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid. Top off any fluids that are low or consider having them flushed and replaced if they’re dirty.

Clean Your Car: Spring is a great time to give your car a good wash and wax. This will not only make it look good, but it will also help protect the paint and body from the elements.

By performing these springtime maintenance tasks, you can ensure that your vehicle is in good condition and ready for the warmer months ahead. Regular maintenance can help prevent costly repairs and keep your car running smoothly for years to come.

Is Car Maintenance Actually Important?

Regular car maintenance is essential for ensuring the longevity, reliability, and safety of your vehicle. Here are some of the key benefits of keeping up with your car’s maintenance schedule:

  1. Improved Performance: Regular maintenance keeps your car running smoothly, allowing it to perform optimally. This includes tasks like oil changes, tire rotations, and replacing worn-out parts, which can all contribute to a better-performing car.
  2. Increased Fuel Efficiency: Regular maintenance can also help improve your car’s fuel efficiency. This can be achieved by checking and fixing issues like worn-out spark plugs, clogged air filters, and underinflated tires.
  3. Enhanced Safety: Regular maintenance helps to identify and repair potential safety hazards, such as worn-out brakes, faulty lighting, and malfunctioning steering components. Keeping your car well-maintained can help to prevent accidents and keep you and your passengers safe on the road.
  4. Prolonged Vehicle Life: Regular maintenance can help extend the life of your car by catching small problems before they become big, expensive issues. This can also help to maintain the resale value of your vehicle.
  5. Cost Savings: By performing regular maintenance, you can save money in the long run by avoiding expensive repairs and breakdowns. This can also help you avoid costly towing charges and rental car fees.

In conclusion, regular car maintenance is a crucial aspect of car ownership that should not be ignored. By taking care of your vehicle and keeping up with its maintenance schedule, you can enjoy a safer, more reliable, and cost-effective driving experience.

Is Your Vehicle Ready For Winter?

Winter can be a tough time for cars, with cold temperatures, snow, and ice all taking their toll on your vehicle. Here are a few steps you can take to make sure your car is ready for winter:

  1. Check your battery: Cold temperatures can cause car batteries to die more quickly, so it’s a good idea to have your battery tested to make sure it’s in good condition.
  2. Change your oil: Cold temperatures can cause oil to thicken, which can make it harder for it to flow through your engine. Consider using a winter-grade oil to help improve your car’s performance in cold weather.
  3. Check your tires: Make sure your tires are properly inflated and have enough tread to provide good traction on icy roads. Consider using winter tires, which are designed to provide better grip in cold weather.
  4. Check your brakes: Cold temperatures can cause your brakes to become less effective, so it’s a good idea to have them checked to make sure they’re in good condition.
  5. Check your windshield wipers: Make sure your wipers are in good condition and are able to clear snow and ice from your windshield effectively.
  6. Check your antifreeze: Make sure your car has enough antifreeze to keep the engine from freezing in cold temperatures.
  7. Keep an emergency kit in your car: It’s a good idea to keep a few basic supplies in your car in case you get stranded in cold weather. This might include blankets, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and some non-perishable food and water.

By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your car is ready to handle the challenges of winter driving.

Waxing Your Vehicle Before Winter Can Save You Thousands

  • Waxing vehicle protects from harmful contaminants
  • Do not forget about maintaining your wheels and tires
  • A weekly wash will keep your paint shining all winter

We all know winter can wreak havoc on our vehicles and we cannot escape it, but we can definitely fight back. There are many winter factors that work against your vehicle. Salt and rust have been among the toughest battles since what feels like the beginning of time. Salt is highly corrosive and does not work well with paint and metal. Paint on your car is an obvious one but the rims on your car absolutely take the brunt of brutal winter conditions. Mother Nature can be unforgiving but there are a number of things that can be done to battle back to ensure your car will last for winters to come.

We all love that freshly waxed look. Waxing your car in the off-season is the # 1 way to ensure your paint remains resistant to contaminants. Keeping your vehicle waxed will not only protect it from oxidation but will repel that damaging salt. It is obviously tough to wax a car in the winter, so make sure it gets done sometime in the fall. Most quality waxes will remain effective for an entire year. Waxing your car doesn’t just apply to certain body panels; wax the ENTIRE car. This includes hard-to-reach places such as the roof, side skirts, and rocker panels. Anything that has paint applied to it, wax it. You will be happy you did.

Maintaining your rims is just as important as your paint. These days there are many materials that are used to produce rims for automobiles. Luckily the same process can be used for most materials. Common materials that are on the rims’ surface include steel, chrome, aluminum, and painted surfaces. These will all react negatively with the salt and create oxidation and/or rust. Aluminum rims will corrode and the clear coat will begin to peel further exposing it to contaminants. Painted rims will oxidize and become faded. Waxing both types of rims will protect them through the winter months. To further protect rims there is a little trick to follow. Apply WD-40 to all 4 rims with a towel. DO NOT SPRAY IT. If sprayed it can go through the rim, go straight to the rotor, and negatively affect your braking system. A light coating of WD-40 will ensure an extra slick surface and keep everything looking clean. 

Now that everything is waxed and ready to go, a weekly car wash is a must. Just one storm can cover your car and it is important to clean it as soon as possible. The less time the salt remains on the car, the better. If you choose to wash your car yourself it is easier to clean all the nooks and crevices. Make sure to inspect door jams and the inside of doors to make sure nothing leaked through. The areas most prone to rust are where panels meet and where metal seams exist such as the areas in the wheel wells. Once the paint cracks and exposes raw steel there is not much you can do to stop rust from spreading. It is best to wash your car when the temperatures are above freezing so that the water doesn’t freeze and create problems with any other parts of your vehicle. If you are not one to wash cars in the cold the best option is to take it to the neighborhood car wash. The car wash does a great job but doing it yourself will not only save money, but it will also allow you to access and clean those hard-to-reach areas.

Hundreds of Runners Laced Up to Eliminate the Stigma of Mental Illness and Addiction

Quincy, MA–Over 600 runners and walkers competed in the 48th Annual Stop the Stigma 5K road race, which was held April 30 at the Kennedy Center in N. Quincy.

“Stop the Stigma” 5K road race was organized by Interfaith Social Services to challenge stereotypes and eliminate the stigma of mental illness and addiction.

Quirk Auto Dealers was one of the main sponsors of this event and is fully committed to supporting Interfaith’s efforts to eliminate the stigma and also encourage treatment for those affected.

“Proceeds from the Stop the Stigma 5K help offset the cost of thousands of mental health counseling sessions each”, said event organizer, Paula Daniels, Director of Development, for Interfaith Social Services.

The organization is working hard to make counseling easily available to those seeking help. “To further break down barriers to receiving treatment, new clients to the New Directions Counseling Center receive their first four sessions free of charge. We want clients to focus on their health first,” said Interfaith’s Executive Director, Rick Doane.

Doan said many potential clients do not seek the treatment they need because they think that they will not qualify for the sliding-fee scale or are embarrassed to admit that they cannot afford it. “By providing these free sessions we allow them to focus on getting treatment first.”, said Doane.

To learn more, visit: https://interfaithsocialservices.org/more-ways-to-help/.

Manchester’s 25th Annual Saint Patricks Parade

40,000 Expected to Attend the Saint Patrick’sParade of Manchester 25th Year Celebration.

Manchester, NH–Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, US Representative Chris
Pappas, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan will be among some of New
Hampshire’s dignitaries that will attend the upcoming Saint Patrick’s Parade
of Manchester 25th annual celebration.

Over 40,000 people are expected to attend, and organizers are preparing for a
robust event now that COVID-19 restrictions are finally starting to lessen. The
parade was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to public safety concerns posed by
the pandemic.

Pipe Bands, High School Bands, Irish Dancers, Clowns, Mini Monster Trucks,
and Go-Carts are some of this year’s event attractions that will be offered by
the financial support of event sponsors, such as Quirk Auto Dealers, who will be
featuring two vehicles in the parade.

“The Manchester Saint Patrick’s Parade is the largest St. Patrick’s Parade north
of Boston and is only made possible through the generous donations from our
sponsors” said parade organizer Jim Walsh.

The parade is a collective effort made by an extensive list of individual residents,
businesses and community partners.

“We have many sponsors who donate $1000 and more as well as many
individuals who donate less than that, many $100 and less. This Parade has
always been privately funded and is this year again. The attractions the parade
offers result in a huge influx of money to downtown businesses and other areas
of the city as well”, said Walsh.

Families in Transition, who serve needy individuals and families in the
Manchester community will benefit from a portion of event proceeds.The parade
is scheduled for Sunday, March 27 at 12 p.m. Visit https://saintpatsnh.com/ for
more information.

St. Patrick’s Day 5K

The Marshfield Education Foundation’s Saint Patricks Day 5k is set to return on

“We’re hoping to get back to normal,” said MEF President John Giberti. “It’s just such a huge event, and it’s become such a community event, which is fun.”

This is the first full event of it’s type heald since Covid-19 began to take hold. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the organizations largest fundraiser, which has raised close to 1 million dollars and funded 172 grants benefiting Marshfield Public Schools. and We are a proud sponsor!

For more information please click the link below:

https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/marshfield-mariner/2022/02/24/marshfield-st-patricks-day-5-k-returns-after-two-years/6878845001/

With support from Mayor Craig and the Manchester Community, Enough Blood to Save More than 100 Lives is Collected at Quirk Kia

Manchester, NH–Enough blood to save over 100 lives was collected at Quirk Kia
of Manchester’s Red Cross blood drive this past week.

Facing the worst blood shortage in over a decade, the Red Cross has been
struggling to meet the blood supply demands and have increased pleas to the
public for help.

Mayor Joyce Craig attended the event and delivered opening remarks. “There’s a
significant shortage in blood right now, and for everyone who can step forward
and join me in giving blood today, I want to thank you. And if you can’t give
today, then look into future opportunities, because once you give once, it’s really
important to continue to do so, because we do save lives by doing this. It literally
takes about 10 minutes out of your day”, said Craig.

Shortly after opening remarks, Mayor Craig rolled up her sleeve and was one of
the first in line to donate.

A total of 38 pints of blood was collected and of those that participated, 17 were
first-time donors.

Sean Western, one of many Quirk employees who attended the event said, “I
donated because there is a shortage of blood, and it only takes about 5-10
minutes to do so. Just one donation can save up to three lives.”

Quirk Auto Dealers will also serve as the official host of an upcoming WMUR-
sponsored blood drive, which is set for June 3, 2022, at Quirk Kia, located at
1300 S. Porter Street in Manchester. Register in advance online at:
http://ow.ly/shLw30s8JkS and select Quirk Kia from the list to sign up.

Quirk Automotive partnering with American Red Cross for blood drive during nationwide blood supply shortage

Logan Russell serves as assistant service manager at Quirk Chevy in Manchester. Courtesy Photo

MANCHESTER, NH – As the nation faces what the American Red Cross is describing as “the worst blood shortage in over a decade,” Quirk Auto Dealers is partnering with the nonprofit organization to host their first blood drive, on February 15, 2022.

With blood supply levels dangerously low across the U.S., Quirk Auto Dealers will be hosting the event at their newly renovated 150,000-square-foot Quirk Kia facility located at 1300 S. Porter Street in Manchester. Quirk is inviting the public to join them in their efforts to help keep the emergency blood supply strong for the Manchester community. Click here to make an appointment today.

“The dangerously low blood supply levels have forced some hospitals to defer patients from major surgery, including organ transplants,” according to a statement recently released on redcross.org, urging the public to make an appointment to give blood.

Quirk Kia in Manchester will be the site of a community blood drive on Feb. 15, 2022 to assist the American Red Cross in boosting a “dangerously low” blood supply.

Quirk Auto Dealers hopes to boost local participation for their blood drive with musical performances by mezzo-soprano Janice Edwards, plus food, and door prizes as a way of saying “thank you” to participating donors. Quirk Auto Dealers is also pleased to announce that they will serve as the official host of an upcoming WMUR-sponsored blood drive, which is set for June 3, 2022, at Quirk Kia in Manchester. 

Community commitment is an important part of what sets Quirk Auto Dealers apart. As the pandemic continues to impact the lives of Granite Staters, Quirk is stepping up that level of commitment. Having invested hundreds of hours and financial resources in local charitable organizations and sponsored events in 2021, Quirk will continue to be a dedicated partner to the city of Manchester in 2022, and has renewed its commitment with many local organizations including Catholic Charities of New Hampshire, Green Acres School, Manchester Little League, the Queen City Rotary Club Road Rally, and Cruising Downtown Manchester.

Manchester has started up its Bookmobile again after the library received a graphically designed 2017 Dodge Ram Pro, courtesy of Quick Motors and Sousa Signs. Photo/Pat Grossmith

Last year, Quirk Auto Dealers donated a Dodge Ram Pro to be used as the new Bookmobile to service the City Library and Manchester Schools to help encourage children to embrace reading on a regular basis, which has become one of their most rewarding contributions to date. Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig notably thanked Quirk for helping to launch the program and bring new books into the hands of Manchester’s children. This program came at a particularly difficult time, with many schools and families struggling to cope with the challenges of remote learning and the necessity of accessing educational resources at home. 

“Don’t be afraid of change. Be afraid of not changing. If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything,”

– Daniel J. Quirk, CEO & Founder of Quirk Auto Dealers

From left James Thorp, Daniel Quirk, and GM Representatives Mark Rainy and Sarah Fretwell. Courtesy Photo

Quirk’s corporate culture has been described as progressive and welcoming, putting diversity and inclusion as a core value within its staffing and community outreach endeavors. While the pandemic has shaped the way we shop, learn, and work, Quirk hasn’t missed a beat, finding new ways to enhance the customer experience and safely work with the community. From newly designed showrooms, each Quirk sales and service location is held to immaculate standards and offers customers in-house financing, home delivery options, and safe and secure online DocuSign technology, customers can access anywhere. 

“When COVID hit, we had already been offering online shopping tools, but we have continued to enhance them so our customers can access the easiest and safest shopping experience each and every time they need a new vehicle or service for their existing one,” said Rachel Victer, Public Relations & Content Marketing Manager at Quirk Auto Dealers

Quirk’s customized service app allows customers to schedule car maintenance, request a rental, and access valuable service coupons. Customers can also use the app to easily cancel and reschedule their service appointment if they encounter a scheduling conflict.

Looking to the Future for a Greener Manchester

For Quirk Auto Dealers, supporting a greener future for Manchester residents and the electric automobile industry in general, is a top priority. Working toward a more sustainable future and reducing the city’s carbon footprint, Quirk will be rolling out a larger assortment of electric vehicles as they become available. 

“We are embracing the electric vehicle industry and have installed electric charging stations at all of our retail locations. We also assist customers in navigating electric vehicle rebates that many manufactures offer,” said Victer.

The Volkswagen ID.4, Kia Niro EV, Ford Mach-E, and Nissan Leaf are just a few of the several electric vehicles that are currently available at Quirk retail locations.

Learn More About Quirk Auto Dealers 

Established in 1977, Quirk Auto Dealers is an award-winning auto group serving the New England region currently operating 16 active dealerships and service centers located throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Quirk Automotive represents many leading automotive manufacturers including Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, RAM, Subaru, and Volkswagen. Quirk Automotive and is equipped with state-of-the-art service and repair centers on-site staffed by ASE-certified master technicians. 

Quirk currently employs over 1,500 employees located throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The company also owns and operates Quirk Parts Depot, a 200,000 square foot warehouse that delivers OEM auto parts worldwide. 

Have You Checked Your Tire Pressure Recently?

If you are currently reading this it’s probably time to check your tire pressure. When’s the last time you checked it? Last week? Last month? Scratching your head trying to figure out the last time it was checked? Keeping an eye on your tire pressure can save you a great deal of time, money, but most importantly it will keep you safe. 

DO NOT neglect your tires. Keeping your vehicle’s tires adequately inflated can lead to faster stopping times, safer/easier turning, increased fuel economy, and extend the overall life of the tires. When a tire has low air pressure the surface area in contact with the ground increases creating a higher resistance making the vehicle work harder to stop. A similar effect is caused when turning, making it more difficult to turn the wheel, and resulting in more body roll. Fuel economy is most optimal when tire pressure is set to factory specs. It creates less drag and allows the vehicle to roll smoother with less application of the gas pedal. Lastly, it will extend the life of your tires because it reduces the risk of uneven wear and premature failure of the tires.   

Not sure what pressure is right for your vehicle? Most vehicles will display the tire specifications on the driver’s side inner door jam. Checking your tire pressure with a proper tire gauge once a week is a good rule of thumb to ensure the pressure remains consistent. Visually inspect your tires every chance you get for nails, chips, cracking, and other hazards to avoid accidents or blowouts while on the road.   

It is always a good idea to rotate your tires every 5,000-8,000 miles for equal wear or every other oil change. Most dealerships or auto shops offer oil maintenance packages that include tire rotation making it super convenient for the owner. If you take care of your tires, they will take care of you. Safe travels!