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BARRINGTON312 S. Hager Ave.Barrington, IL 60010847-381-0454

BL UE

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A L o f EXC EL L ENCE

CRYSTAL LAKE123 E. Virginia Rd.Crystal Lake, IL 60014815-356-0440

Trivia ChallengeWIN a $25 Gas Card!

Spring Special $39.95 Spring Vehicle Special

Every issue includes a trivia contest for a $25 gas card. The first ten people to call us with the answer to our trivia question are entered in a drawing. At the end of the month, we give away the gas card. We make it easy. Just read the newsletter for answers to the issue’s trivia question and give us a call at either one of the Douglas Automotive Centers.

Congratulations to our Winter 2012-2013 Winners: Customers Craig & Missy Zilm

This issue’s question: What decade does the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act date back to?

As winter makes its exit, our cars are in recovery mode from having dealt with the freezing temps, wintery precipitation and salted roads. In honor of car care month, give your car some extra TLC as we delve into spring. Indulge in some seasonal maintenance.

• Deluxe Engine Oil & Filter Change• Lubrication of Chassis (where applicable)• Tire Rotation• Brake Inspection• Battery & Charging System Test• Inspection of all fluids, belts, hoses, & lights• Steering & Suspension• Inspection of Air Conditioning & Cooling Systems

Expires 5/18/13

Being a car owner comes with many responsibilities. Keeping up with the very necessary, routine maintenance and repairs is essential for the life of your car. Can a dealer refuse to honor your new car’s warranty if someone else, outside of the dealership, does the maintenance and repairs? According to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the answer is no.

Going back to the 1970s and enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits car manufacturers from voiding a vehicle’s warranty because service was done by a non-dealer. What does this all mean? This means you or any non-dealer is free to provide maintenance and repairs to your new car without voiding the warranty.

It has become a common misconception that a new car’s dealer must perform all maintenance services, so feel free to take your car to your automotive shop of choosing. The key is to follow the maintenance schedule as outlined in your owner’s manual. If you have performed all the appropriate maintenance, you cannot be denied warranty coverage.

Setting the Record StraightThe Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

FUEL for ThoughtSpring 2013

Entries from Elementary Schools including grades 1-5 in both

Barrington and Crystal Lake are starting to filter in and are almost

ready to be reviewed. Stay tuned to find out who will win.

LOOKS AND ACTS LIKE YOUImagine a car that

douglasautomotive.com

Spring Car CareAs we welcome the spring months ahead, it is recommended to give your vehicle a good once over. Take part in National Car Care Month and check the following things to ensure your car is ready for the spring:

1. All fluids: Check all of your vehicle’s fluids which include power steering, brake, transmission, engine oil, windshield washer solvent, and antifreeze/coolant. 2. Battery: The battery’s connections should be clean and tight. Customers are often surprised that a battery made it through the winter only to find that it fails on the first hot day. The heat is just as hard as the cold on your car’s battery, if not more. So it is a good idea to have it tested before we get into the hot weather. 3. Tires: Examine your vehicle’s tires and look for signs of excessive wear, cracking or bulges, which all could signify that your car may have an alignment issue. 4. Heating & Air Conditioning: Ensure that your vehicle’s heating and air conditioning are working properly to keep comfortable and safe while driving. Heating and air conditioning units can become of prime importance depending on the weather changes. 5. Engine Management: Consider changing the spark plugs and fuel filter and cleaning the fuel injectors to make sure that your vehicle’s engine is at its best.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Steven SonnemanSteve is no stranger to the automotive industry, having worked in a handful of automotive shops before joining Douglas Automotive. As a part of the Douglas Automotive team, Steve is a service writer providing the writing for repair orders and communicating with the mechanics and customers.

Steve attended Wyoming Technical Institute and studied to be an automotive technician. It was at Wyoming Technical Institute where Steve excelled greatly and was ranked in the top 15% of his class.

After completing school, Steve held service management positions with Cassidy Tire and Crystal Lake Tire and Battery where he honed his skills specializing in front-end brakes for all sorts of vehicles including cars, semi-trailers, motor homes and school buses. He holds ASE certifications in Alignments, Brakes, Engine Performance and engine repair and has extensive management, technical and diagnostic training.

Steve truly is a car lover and enjoys cruising around town in his Subaru WRX STI and turning up his favorite kind of music, rock and roll.

Outside of work, Steve enjoys fishing, working on his own car and spending his time with his loving family. Personal career accomplishments aside, Steve is a family man at heart. Steve is happily married and has a daughter and says that his biggest life accomplishment is his family.

VOTE

DOUGLASBest of the Fox for: Auto Repair, Muffler Shop, Oil Change, Tire Shop Visit NWHerald.com/bestofthefox/vote for Details!

Potholes & Your VehicleHeading into spring, the roads have just endured the rough winter months. Snow, cold, temperatures and ice can all stack up to create potholes, making driving hazardous for you and your vehicle. If you have had the misfortune of hitting a pothole or two, take notice of how your car continues to drive after hitting a pothole. If you notice some of these telltale signs, your car just may be out of alignment and in need of repair:

• Trouble controlling your vehicle: Hitting a pothole may have been damaging to your vehicle, especially if you notice that your vehicle suddenly seems hard to control. Swaying when turning and bouncing excessively are control-based issues that should be taken seriously after hitting a pothole. You might notice that suddenly the steering wheel will feel as if it is off center. Any of these changes could indicate that your vehicle’s steering and suspension are damaged. Both steering and suspension pair together to make up your vehicle’s handling, so if you notice a problem, take your car in immediately.

• Veering in one direction: One of the classic signs that your vehicle has been knocked out of alignment is when your vehicle veers significantly in one direction. In a safe straight path or area, accelerate slowly and take your hands off the wheel for a few seconds. If your car is unintentionally drifting in one direction, your vehicle may be out of alignment. When a car is properly aligned, it will maintain a rather straight path, so if you notice that your vehicle is unintentionally drifting in one direction, you may need to take your car in for an alignment.

• Tires suddenly become an issue: Hitting a pothole can do some serious damage to your tires since after all, your tires are what strike potholes first. How do you know if your tires have been affected since your brush with a pothole? Uneven wearing of a tire, low tire pressure, bulges and a dented rim should all be suspect to you after hitting a pothole.

Steve’s Favorite Recipe

PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Ingredients ½ cup Hellman’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-¼ lbs.)4 tsp. Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs

Directions1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 2. Combine Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise with

cheese in medium bowl. Arrange chicken on baking sheet. Evenly top with mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.

3. Bake until chicken is thoroughly cooked, about 20 minutes.

douglasautomotive.com

Spring Car CareAs we welcome the spring months ahead, it is recommended to give your vehicle a good once over. Take part in National Car Care Month and check the following things to ensure your car is ready for the spring:

1. All fluids: Check all of your vehicle’s fluids which include power steering, brake, transmission, engine oil, windshield washer solvent, and antifreeze/coolant. 2. Battery: The battery’s connections should be clean and tight. Customers are often surprised that a battery made it through the winter only to find that it fails on the first hot day. The heat is just as hard as the cold on your car’s battery, if not more. So it is a good idea to have it tested before we get into the hot weather. 3. Tires: Examine your vehicle’s tires and look for signs of excessive wear, cracking or bulges, which all could signify that your car may have an alignment issue. 4. Heating & Air Conditioning: Ensure that your vehicle’s heating and air conditioning are working properly to keep comfortable and safe while driving. Heating and air conditioning units can become of prime importance depending on the weather changes. 5. Engine Management: Consider changing the spark plugs and fuel filter and cleaning the fuel injectors to make sure that your vehicle’s engine is at its best.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Steven SonnemanSteve is no stranger to the automotive industry, having worked in a handful of automotive shops before joining Douglas Automotive. As a part of the Douglas Automotive team, Steve is a service writer providing the writing for repair orders and communicating with the mechanics and customers.

Steve attended Wyoming Technical Institute and studied to be an automotive technician. It was at Wyoming Technical Institute where Steve excelled greatly and was ranked in the top 15% of his class.

After completing school, Steve held service management positions with Cassidy Tire and Crystal Lake Tire and Battery where he honed his skills specializing in front-end brakes for all sorts of vehicles including cars, semi-trailers, motor homes and school buses. He holds ASE certifications in Alignments, Brakes, Engine Performance and engine repair and has extensive management, technical and diagnostic training.

Steve truly is a car lover and enjoys cruising around town in his Subaru WRX STI and turning up his favorite kind of music, rock and roll.

Outside of work, Steve enjoys fishing, working on his own car and spending his time with his loving family. Personal career accomplishments aside, Steve is a family man at heart. Steve is happily married and has a daughter and says that his biggest life accomplishment is his family.

VOTE

DOUGLASBest of the Fox for: Auto Repair, Muffler Shop, Oil Change, Tire Shop Visit NWHerald.com/bestofthefox/vote for Details!

Potholes & Your VehicleHeading into spring, the roads have just endured the rough winter months. Snow, cold, temperatures and ice can all stack up to create potholes, making driving hazardous for you and your vehicle. If you have had the misfortune of hitting a pothole or two, take notice of how your car continues to drive after hitting a pothole. If you notice some of these telltale signs, your car just may be out of alignment and in need of repair:

• Trouble controlling your vehicle: Hitting a pothole may have been damaging to your vehicle, especially if you notice that your vehicle suddenly seems hard to control. Swaying when turning and bouncing excessively are control-based issues that should be taken seriously after hitting a pothole. You might notice that suddenly the steering wheel will feel as if it is off center. Any of these changes could indicate that your vehicle’s steering and suspension are damaged. Both steering and suspension pair together to make up your vehicle’s handling, so if you notice a problem, take your car in immediately.

• Veering in one direction: One of the classic signs that your vehicle has been knocked out of alignment is when your vehicle veers significantly in one direction. In a safe straight path or area, accelerate slowly and take your hands off the wheel for a few seconds. If your car is unintentionally drifting in one direction, your vehicle may be out of alignment. When a car is properly aligned, it will maintain a rather straight path, so if you notice that your vehicle is unintentionally drifting in one direction, you may need to take your car in for an alignment.

• Tires suddenly become an issue: Hitting a pothole can do some serious damage to your tires since after all, your tires are what strike potholes first. How do you know if your tires have been affected since your brush with a pothole? Uneven wearing of a tire, low tire pressure, bulges and a dented rim should all be suspect to you after hitting a pothole.

Steve’s Favorite Recipe

PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Ingredients ½ cup Hellman’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-¼ lbs.)4 tsp. Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs

Directions1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 2. Combine Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise with

cheese in medium bowl. Arrange chicken on baking sheet. Evenly top with mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.

3. Bake until chicken is thoroughly cooked, about 20 minutes.