Break the Texting and Driving Habit

Your Mirage, Eclipse Cross, or Outlander relies on a complex system of components to slow and stop your vehicle. If any of these parts are worn, damaged, or malfunctioning, it can seriously impact your safety. Fortunately, there are ways to determine when the braking system is not performing as it should and a brake repair from your Mitsubishi dealer is necessary. One of the Brake Warning Lights Is On When you start your car, you will notice that the Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning light lights up. However, something is wrong if the light stays on or comes on while you're driving. The ABS light warns that your vehicle doesn't have antilock brakes, but if the brake system warning light is off, you can still rely on your brakes. If your car's brake system warning light comes on, it's crucial to get repairs done as soon as possible. more You Hear High-Pitched Screeching Sounds If you hear a high-pitched screeching sound when you step on the brake pedal, the wear indicators warn you that the brake pads are wearing thin and need to be replaced soon. Brake pads under 3.2 millimeters thick must be replaced immediately to prevent failure. Your Hear Grinding Noises When brake pads wear down completely, the bare metal will scrape against the steel rotors, making awful grinding noises. In extreme cases, the heat will cause your brakes to stick, which is incredibly dangerous. Repairing or replacing damaged rotors can also be quite expensive. You Notice a Brake Fluid Leak Brake fluid leaks will severely affect your vehicle's braking performance. When the brake fluid level drops, it will trigger the warning light. Check for yellow or brown puddles underneath your car that look like oil but don't have an oily consistency. If your car is leaking brake fluid, it's best to get the leak repaired promptly. Your Brakes Are Unresponsiveness When you step on the brake pedal and your brakes feel spongy and unresponsive, it could be due to worn brake pads, an air leak, or a leaking brake hose. It will also take your car longer to come to a complete stop. Addressing these issues immediately is essential to ensure your safety on the road. You Feel Vibrations When Braking If you notice vibrations through your brake pedal during normal braking, the rotors are warped and not making even contact with the brake pads. As your car's rotors get old or thin, they may start to warp. Excessive braking can create a lot of friction and heat, contributing to warping. You Smell a Burning Odor If you smell burning from your brakes, they are overheating and won't provide the stopping power you need to be safe on the road. Pullover, wait for the brakes to cool down, and schedule a brake system repair. The brake system is one of your vehicle's most critical safety features and must always be in perfect working order. If you have a braking problem, stop at DELLA Mitsubishi today, and our team of qualified technicians will perform expert and reliable repairs.

Winter driving is no joke, especially in Plattsburgh, NY; Burlington, VT; Potsdam, Lake Placid, and Malone, NY! One of your best defenses against icy winter roads is proper tires and tire maintenance. Check out the frequently asked questions below and if you want to know more, stop by DELLA Mitsubishi! When should I have my new tires installed? As soon as the temperature drops and stays consistently freezing bring your vehicle into our service center to have your new tires put on. How important is tire pressure? Extremely. The wrong tire pressure can cost you gas mileage and safety! Tires lose pressure as the temperature drops, so be sure to check them at least once a month. How should I store my tires when I’m not using them? Indoors, in a clean, cool and dark location. Direct sunlight and sources of heat can damage the tires making them useless the next time you need them. What should I do before a trip? Plan your route and check the road conditions before leaving the house. Be sure to have emergency phone numbers ready to go and your cell phone charged. And lastly, check all your fluid. "Winter Driving Tips | Michelin US." Www.michelinman.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2017.

Distracted driving is an all-too-common issue. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distraction accounts for close to 80 percent of the 10 million car accidents that occur in the Unites States each year. While most people associate distracted driving with cell phones, there are actually a whole list of distractions outside of our phones that have played a role in these accidents. Check out our list below of five of the most common driving distractions and be sure to keep all of these in mind the next time you get behind the wheel. 1.) Eating - We are all guilty of having something to eat while we are on-the-go. However, eating means that you do not have both hands on the wheel and you have your focus on something other than the road. There have been several instances of eating being the cause of an accident including one man in Ottawa, Canada who thought to try and eat an entire rotisserie chicken. Another woman in Blacksburg, South Carolina was even killed in an accident that was caused because she was finishing off some takeout after leaving a Waffle House. 2.) Changing - While people may use the back seat of a vehicle as a changing room, it is not the safest practice because you will most likely not be wearing your seatbelt which puts you in danger of being more seriously injured should an accident occur while you are mid-change. However, some people take this unsafe practice to the next level and attempt to change while they are the ones behind the wheel. In fact, the results of an NPR survey showed that over 25 percent of teen drivers admitted that they change their clothes while they drive. Once again, this affects your attention to the road and keeps you from having both hands on the wheel. So basically, if you need to adjust your clothes, pull over or wait until you arrive at your destination. 3.) Fighting - Anyone who has ever been on a long car trip knows that arguments are common when you are trapped inside a vehicle with one or more people for hours at a time. However, sometimes these arguments actually turn physical to the point where the driver and passenger will begin striking each other and the passenger may even try to grab the wheel. The moral is, control your temper when you are behind the wheel and keep anyone that you but heads with riding in a different vehicle. 4.) Pet Cuddles - Pet owners love to take their furry friends with them everywhere they go but they make pet carriers and animal car restraints for a reason. A survey from AAA that was conducted in 2010 found that 21 of drivers in America admitted that they let their dog ride in their lap when they drive, five percent said that they played with their dog while driving, and seven percent even admitted to feeding them while they were behind the wheel. Driving with your pet in your lap or allowing them to distract you is dangerous for both you and your pet as well as other drivers around you that could be affected if your distraction leads to an accident. Either travel without your pets or keep them properly restrained for the entire trip. 5.) Applying Makeup - Women everywhere know the struggle of running behind when your makeup is not finished and the temptation to take advantage of that mirror under your sun visor to apply the finishing touches. However, when your focus is on making sure that your eyeliner is being applied correctly, it is not on the road where it should be. In fact, a study conducted by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute found that applying makeup while driving increased your risk of a crash nearly twice as much as talking on the phone. Baker, Matt. "The Dumbest Things People Do Behind the Wheel." SafeBee. N.p., 16 Sept. 2016. Web. 30 Sept. 2016. <http://www.safebee.com/travel/dumbest-things-people-do-behind-wheel>.