Category Archives: Service

Art Gamblin Motors award winning service departments that services all makes and models. Located in Enumclaw and over 10 technicians our service department has some of the highest overall trained technicians in the pacific northwest.

What’s the difference between AWD, 4WD, RWD, and FWD?

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Your Wheels

Vehicles act differently on snow and ice depending on whether they have front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. With winter in full swing, We’d like to provide you with a brief spin through the options. Remember, almost every new vehicle from Chevrolet and Buick includes an electronic traction control system that intervenes automatically to improve performance in slippery conditions.

Front-wheel drive (FWD): Simply put, engine power is channeled to the front wheels to propel the vehicle. FWD is the most popular and prevalent system in the market because its compact setup enhances fuel efficiency and frees up more room inside the vehicle. Plus, the weight of the powertrain is concentrated over the driving wheels, so it offers good traction when it’s slippery.

Rear-wheel drive (RWD): As the name implies, engine power is sent to the rear wheels to propel the vehicle. In passenger cars, RWD reigned until the advent of FWD in the early 1980s. But RWD can more effectively handle higher engine power and higher vehicle weights, which is why it’s still favored in large trucks, larger performance vehicles, purpose-built race cars and law-enforcement pursuit use.

All-wheel drive (AWD): Don’t confuse all-wheel drive with four-wheel drive. Both engage all four wheels, but they’re designed and operate differently. Generally, an AWD drivetrain operates as a FWD or RWD system – most are FWD. AWD system pre-emptively sends power to front and rear axles on every launch to prevent wheel slip, then backs down if no slip occurs. Power is transferred automatically via a single-speed transfer case. (A transfer case connects to the transmission to split power between the front and rear wheels.) The beauty of AWD is no driver effort is needed to activate the system.

Four-wheel drive (4WD or 4×4): Four-wheel drive typically features a two-speed transfer case with high and low ranges for maximum traction. 4WD vehicles typically operate in RWD until four-wheel traction is required; and while most systems are driver-activated, many offer a setting that automatically engages the high range when it’s slippery. The driver must still engage the low range. Found in large, rear-wheel-drive trucks and larger SUVs with additional ground clearance compared to passenger cars and crossovers, 4×4 still provides the best traction and capability in off-road.

 

“No Charge” Battery Tips

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Battery

Most car battery manufacturers will tell you that on average a typical battery will last about 48 months (4yrs).  Here are a few simple checks you can do to help prolong the life of your battery and diminish the chance of hearing that devastating “click” when you turn the key.

-Have your battery terminals cleaned regularly to avoid the build-up of corrosion.

– Always start the car before operating any electrical accessories and then drive the vehicle allowing the alternator to recharge the battery.

-Have your starter and alternator tested regularly to ensure they are performing at the optimal rate.

-Secure your battery to avoid excessive vibrations which can damage the battery connections or other vital electrical components.

-Insulate your battery from both extreme hot and cold conditions.

-Invest in a quality battery charger that will maintain an optimal charge in your battery when your car is not in use for an extended period of time.

Ladies Night – Heels on Wheels

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Art Gamblin Motors hosted its first Ladies night on Thursday July 7, 2011.  Chevrolet had a special promotion going on that inspired this event: test drive a Chevrolet and get a free $40 Spa Gift Certificate through Spa-Finder.com.  As women arrived for the event, we had a valet set up so they had an opportunity to test drive a new Chevrolet to recieve a $40 Spa Finder Certificate.

Once inside, guests were treated to a catered dinner by Mazatlan Restaurant. Along with dinner, we had over 20 local vendors set up around our body shop and service area. We had a wide range of booths that included everything from a pampered chef, purses, custom clothing, jewelry, custom greeting cards and makeup.

Once everyone settled in, Tyson Gamblin Internet Coordinator and Mike Johnson Service Manager went over the nights agenda. The women broke up into four groups in order to learn something new about Auto Car and Art Gamblin Motors.  There were 4 stations :

Station #1 was led by Justin Knowles, Body Shop Manager at Art Gamblin Motors Collision Center.  Justin went over what to do in case of an accident, the steps that you should take and what shortcuts should not be taken.  Justin went over the process of exchanging information, calling the police and taking pictures of the scene.

Station #2 was directed by Mike Johnson, the Service Manager at Art Gamblin Motors Service Department.  Mike went over all the different parts that can go in your car and why factory parts are the best option.  To illustrate this, Mike took apart three air filters and fuel filters that ranged in price from good, better and best.  Mike showcased that sometimes saving a couple of dollars on a non manufactured part might cost you in the long run.

Station #3 was taught by Travis Weingard, an Auto Technician at Art Gamblin Motors Service Department.  Travis went over the proper and safest way to change a tire.  This illustration included locating a spare tire, jack, tools, and the basic steps of actually changing a tire.  A major point of emphases was making sure that the vehicle is secure before you take off a tire.

Station #4 was led byAimee Locke, a Service Advisor at Art Gamblin Motors.  Aimee created a post card of over 30 different symbols that can appear on your dash while driving or starting your vehicle.  Aimee went over which lights – although frightening looking – are not that bad, and which lights require immediate attention.

Overall it was a great night and we had a great turn out.  We had over 75 women from around the area come out to our first ladies night. We are already in the process of planning our next one for the early part of 2011.

From the Sales Floor to the Service Floor- Tony Hellman

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 Long time Gamblin Motors salesperson Tony Hellman has made the move from serving customers on the salesfloor to now serving them as the new Quick Lube manager located at our Gamblin Truck Center. With his immense knowledge about everything cars combined with his friendly personality, Tony is the perfect guy to go see the next time your vehicle needs alittle TLC.

Resetting the Oil Life Monitor In Your Car

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Changing your oil is not like how it used to be.  Back in the old days you would check the dip stick every time you filled up with gas.  When 3,000 miles rolled around you changed the oil.  Now ask your 17 year old how to check the oil in their car and most of the time they will point at the engine life monitor on the car.  We rely on electronics to tell you when to change your oil not the regular 3,000-mile approach.  Many people still go by the traditional 3,000 mile approach to change their oil while others follow the oil life monitor system.  We do not suggest one is better then the other but we do agree that changing your oil is important!

The oil life monitor is a great tool to track how much oil you have left remaining in your car.  So if you like to change your oil on your own many people have a hard time finding a way to reset or make the engine oil life monitor light turn off or reset.  Our Quick Lube team down at Art Gamblin Motors Truck Center in Enumclaw was happy to put together two videos on how to update your oil life monitor.

Jordan our Quick Lube Manager demonstrates you how to reset your oil life monitor on the Chevrolets that do not have the four button driver information screens.  If your engine oil light comes on and you have changed your oil Jordan shows you the quick and easy way how to reset the monitor. Put the key in the ignition (do not start the car) push on the gas pedal 3 times, the oil life light will flash a couple of times.  The oil life monitor has been updated.

Kraig a Quick Lube technician shows how to change the oil life monitor in the new Chevrolet’s with the driver information screen that has the four button controls located either on the steering wheel or the dash.  Kraig demonstrates that you need to turn the key over but do not turn the car on, scroll through the vehicle options and find the oil life monitor reading it will give you a percentage of how much oil life you have remaining. While looking at the oil life screen hold the check mark for about 5 seconds and it will update the oil life monitor.

Changing your oil