Zappone Chrysler Jeep Dodge - Granville

Blog / Life Hack

Dead Battery? Here’s Your Guide To Changing it!

  Don’t be left stranded out in the cold this year, let me tell you how to change your dead battery from the comfort of your very own driveway! Or parts store or wherever you may be with your vehicle and its’ dead battery. Take a look at our steps below and be sure to schedule a service appointment with our team to have your battery tested so you’re not caught blindsided by a dead battery! If you’re ready to swap out the old, check out our service specials to see if you can save some cash while swapping in a new battery!   Steps to changing your dead battery:  
  1. Pop open the hood of your vehicle, locate the battery, and identify the positive from the negative terminals. Negative terminals tend to be black in color and positive are usually red. Using a wrench, loosen the nut that secures the negative terminal, then remove the cable from the post. Repeat this with the positive terminal. ALWAYS DO THE NEGATIVE PORT FIRST.
  2. Now, it is time for us to remove the holding clamp that secures the battery in place. Depending on what type of clamp your vehicle has will depend on if you need a wrench or not. Unfasten any fasteners holding the battery in place and remove the battery from the holding tray once there is nothing keeping it secure. Keep in mind batteries tend to be heavy, so ask for help if you need it.
  3. Next, is a good idea to clean the holding tray, cables, nuts/ bolts, and posts. A simple soap and water solution will take care of this. If you notice any corrosion, use an anti-corrosive solution and clean it off. Corrosion can hinder the connection from your battery to your vehicle. Give the parts enough time to dry completely before moving onto the next steps.
  4. Insert your new battery into the holding tray and secure it with the holding clamp we removed earlier. Before connecting the terminals, use an anti-corrosion solution on the posts. This will prevent deposits of corrosion from allowing the batter to properly charging. Begin with the positive posts and repeat with the negative. After applying the grease, attach the cables back to the ports, positive first and negative last.
  5. We’re almost done! Give the battery a wiggle to ensure that it is locked in place and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Before closing up shop, try starting your vehicle to make sure it starts and everything is connected properly! When your vehicle is running and you know things are good, close the hood and get on with the rest of your day!
  Hoo-rah! You did it! If you need assistance or have questions, give our team a call and we will be more than happy to help you!
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Road Trip + These Games = One Happy Ride! | Granville, NY

Summer is just heating up here in Upstate New York and that means you’re probably gearing up to hit the road for a road trip with the family! But what are you going to do to pass the time? Don’t stress - we have that one checked off on your list! Take a look at these family-friendly games listed out below that will surely get everyone in the car involved and keep them from asking, “are we there yet?” Take a look and if you’re ready to upgrade your ride before hitting the road - you know exactly where to find us! License Plate Map Grab a clipboard, a color-less printed out copy of the U.S. map, and some crayons! When you see a license plate from a certain state, color it in! This will keep kids occupied for hours as they race to be the first one to get all 50 states! Spot The Car This is a great game for older children who can differentiate the difference between vehicle models or brands. Instead of looking for different states like we did in the Licensee Plate Map game, you’re looking for different models. You can make a printable scavenger hunt list to check off when that model is found. The first one to check off all models wins! The Alphabet Race An adult picks a letter from the alphabet and whoever spots that letter out the window first (billboard, cows, tires, for example) gets to go next! This one is truly endless and can help pass the time, especially if you’re traveling with small children who are learning to expand their minds! I Spy Everyone knows this one! Start with saying “I spy with my little eye….” and give a clue as to what you are looking at. Everyone takes a turn guessing at what you could be seeing, the person who guesses correctly gets to start the next round. 20 Questions Another popular and easy option! Someone in the car thinks of a specific object and other passengers take turns guessing what the person, place or thing might be and each question must be answered with a simple yes or no. After every answer, the questioner gets to take one guess at what the ‘thing’ might be. The passenger who guesses correctly wins and gets to start the next round!

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Gear Up For Spring With These 5 Helpful Service Tips! | Granville, NY

Happy March! Can you believe that spring is finally here?! We sure can and we’re ready to celebrate the beginning of a new season full of warmer temperatures. But as you know, winter can cause issues for our vehicles and it’s important to get the green light from your service technicians to ensure that your vehicle is in proper working condition and you can explore freely this spring and summer. Check out a few of our tips to check for and be sure to schedule your service appointment with our team online today. And don’t forget to snag a coupon to save a little extra cash when you stop in to see us. Now, let’s talk about those spring service details! Wash Your Ride As temperatures are warming up, it’s important to visit the car wash and treat your vehicle to a little TLC. Make sure to wash the undercarriage of your vehicle to get rid of any winter buildup and debris. It’s also a great idea to have the interior of your vehicle detailed to ensure a fresh, clean start to spring. Check Your Battery Wintertime is known for making batteries weak and it’s important to have your battery tested to ensure its health. Also, if your battery is older than four years old, it’s a good rule of thumb to invest in a new one. Fill Up The Fluids During the winter, your vehicle’s fluids tend to drain easily and quickly. And with spring around the corner, you should be stopping in to have your fluids topped off and be sure you have plenty of windshield washer fluid too. Inspect & Align Your Tires Winter driving can be brutal on your tires and it’s important to ensure that there are no leaks, bulges, and lack of tread on your tires. Stop in and allow our team to inspect your tires, fill up to proper PSI levels, rotate and align them. Get Under The Hood While we’re at it, pop open the hood (when cold) and give everything underneath a good look over. Inspect hoses, belts, caps, air filters, and make sure they are not cracked or damaged. If they are, be sure to schedule an appointment and have them replaced as soon as possible. Also, make sure your air filters are replaced so your air conditioning is ready when warm weather is officially here.

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Turn Up The Cheer With Our Playlist! | Granville, NY

By golly! Christmas is nearly here and that means you’ll need to spread some holiday cheer! We want to help you accomplish that and this week we have our Christmas playlist to help! Whether you are hosting the party or traveling, we encourage you to turn up the volume and get the party started with the list below. Feel free to add some of your own for a twist! And if you’re thinking about upgrading your ride, come on in to see our team and let’s get the party started right here at Zappone CJDR in Granville! It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Michael Buble Santa Tell Me - Ariana Grande Rockin Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Mariah Carey Santa Baby - Ariana Grande Let It, Snow! Let It, Snow! Let It, Snow! - Frank Sinatra What Christmas Means To Me  - Stevie Wonder Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer - Dean Martin Mistletoe - Justin Bieber Last Christmas - Ariana Grande Thank God It’s Christmas - Queen Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry Frosty The Snowman - Ella Fitzgerald Shake Up Christmas - Train Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley I Still Believe In Santa Clause - LeAnn Rimes All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey Last Christmas - Wham!