4 Essential Services You'll Find at Your Norfolk Nissan Dealership

Worn tires are one one the main causes of accidents. Healthy tires make stopping easier and faster, while damaged tires are more likely to prevent you from stopping in time. As your Nissan dealer, we can repair or replace your tires when they're worn. We'd like you to know a few signs you need to visit us for new tires. Lincoln Penny Test Adequate tire tread is essential for driving safety. Healthy tread ensures the tires can grip the surface and provide traction. The tread is subject to constant friction with the surface, and as the tread wears down, vehicle handling will become slightly more difficult. Your braking distance will also increase, and this makes an accident more likely. You can test your tread depth using a Lincoln penny. Insert the penny upside down into the thickest part of the tread. If you can only see part of Lincoln's face, your tread is healthy. If you can see Lincoln's head up to the hairline, your tread is worn. Finally, if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, your tread is severely worn, and your tire needs replacement. We can quickly replace any worn tires and balance them. Tire Bulge A tire bulge looks like a raised lump or blister on the surface. They are more common on the sidewall, the tire section parallel to the sidewalk, but they can occur on any part of a tire. A bulge can be forced if the tire's internal structure breaks down or if part of the tire has been pinched against a hard object. The bulge is filled with air, and this makes it potentially dangerous. The air inside a tire heats up when you drive due to surface friction. The extra air in the bulge stretches the rubber, and as the tire expands due to increased internal pressure, the bulge can rupture in a blowout. We can't repair a tire with internal damage, but we can replace it so you can drive safely again. Uneven Wear Tires suffer damage from friction but can also be damaged by alignment or balance issues or even by their position on your vehicle. Wheel alignment is the angle of your tires relative to the axle, and this can change over time as you drive. Tire balance is the weight distribution inside the tire, and it should be centered to provide the best traction and the lowest friction damage. Your tires will suffer increased wear on certain sections depending on their position on your Nissan. These damaged sections will continue to wear and can lead to leaks or a blowout. Our technicians can correct any of these issues, and we'll replace any tires damaged by these problems. If you have a damaged tire, visit the experts today at Banister Nissan of Norfolk in Norfolk, VA.

Your battery is one of the most important parts of your vehicle. When it isn't storing enough power, any of the electrical components in your Nissan may start having problems. Since your battery is responsible for starting your engine, you may even be unable to start your vehicle if your battery needs to be replaced. To prevent this, keep reading to discover the signs that you need a new car battery from your nearest Nissan dealer. When There Is Extensive Corrosion Extensive corrosion is one of the most common signs that it's time to consider replacing your car battery. Corrosion results from the metals under your hood reacting chemically with the gases. You may be able to clean the corrosion off of your battery's connection points. Do not touch the blue or white powdery substance if you choose to go this route. The typical car battery has a three- to five-year useful life. However, many factors affect the longevity of car batteries. Excessive corrosion can shorten the useful life of your battery, so it's a good idea to inspect your battery regularly. When You Have Problems With Your Lights You should also have your battery inspected by a mechanic if you notice the luminosity of your lights change. For example, you may need to replace your car battery if your headlights get brighter when you accelerate and dimmer when you idle. It is also common for dashboard or interior lights to flicker when your battery is starting to fail. When Your Windows Roll Slowly Remember, your battery is vital for the proper functioning of all your car's electrical components. If it takes your windows a while to roll up when your car is off, your battery may be to blame. When Your Engine Turns Over Slowly Typically, cars give visual signs that the battery is failing. However, your car may give you audible clues to decode, too. It may be time to get a new battery for your car if your engine sounds like it's struggling to start. If your car cranks a few times before your engine starts revving, have your local dealership inspect your battery. Lots of things can cause a slow-to-start motor, including: A defunct alternator A worn starter Bad wiring You may feel frustrated or scared if your car battery fails to hold a charge, making you late to work or leaving you stranded when you want to go home. If you notice lots of corrosion or dim or flickering lights, schedule an appointment at Banister Nissan of Norfolk in Norfolk, VA.

The importance of proactive car maintenance cannot be overstated if you care about road safety and your vehicle's overall lifespan. One of the most important routine services to have carried out is brake servicing and repairs. Let's take a look at a few significant reasons why you should never miss a scheduled brake check at your local Nissan dealership. Your Brakes Are Your Top Safety Feature First and foremost, routine brake maintenance dramatically reduces your risk of brake failure. It also prevents your brakes from becoming slightly weaker over time, which can be extremely dangerous. Brakes are a car's number one safety feature, allowing you to stop immediately in the case of a sudden collision threat. Even your car's automatic emergency braking system diminishes in effectiveness if you neglect to properly maintain your brakes. With this in mind, keep yourself and your passengers as safe as possible by periodically visiting your local dealership for a brake inspection. Also, have worn-out brake components promptly replaced and respond quickly to any other signs of brake trouble. Your Brakes Contribute To Vehicle Handling While driving, we use our brakes a great deal in all kinds of maneuvers. Thus, when our brakes are highly responsive, the overall handling of our cars is increased in many ways, from hugging tight turns in the road to navigating stop-and-go traffic. This keeps us safer and also enhances driving pleasure. You Reduce the Overall Cost of Vehicle Upkeep As with most car parts, preventative brake maintenance can reduce how often you need to replace parts, thereby saving you money in the long run. While inspecting your brakes, the technicians can catch little problems early on and fix them promptly before they grow into something that requires serious repairs and parts replacements. You Maintain Higher Resale Value for Longer Keeping your vehicle finely tuned helps keep it in great condition for longer. If you ever intend to resell your car, you'll be glad that you never missed a scheduled brake servicing visit. Used car buyers are keen to examine the vehicle history report of any potential purchase; cars with well-kept parts, including the brakes, are in better condition and can claim a higher price. How Often To Have Brake Inspections at Your Nissan Dealer For most drivers, it's advisable to have a brake inspection every 10,000 miles at the least. Twice a year is a good rule of thumb, which may coincide nicely with your routine oil changes. Some drivers with somewhat brake-heavy driving habits need to have their brakes checked more frequently than others. This is because the pads, rotors, and other parts tend to wear out more rapidly with heavier use. Have your car's brakes checked and repaired today at Nissan of Norfolk in Norfolk, VA. We're a local one-stop shop for all your Nissan purchasing, financing, and maintenance needs.