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Looking for a new sedan? In an endless line of possibilities, the decision can be tough. Lucky for you, we have just the one that may make your final decision easier. Say hello to the 2017 Nissan Altima. Though unchanged from last year, the Altima is still a favorite among car owners – and with good reason. It houses engine and transmission choices that all deliver stronger acceleration and quick responses. It shows off distinctive styling and front seats that stand out in comfort. And, it also offers great fuel economy, which means savings in time and money spent at the gas station. But when you opt for a sedan as worthwhile as the 2017 Nissan Altima, you have to stay on top of routine maintenance services, otherwise, it won't last nearly as long as it should. And with as large of an investment as a brand-new car is, you want it to last a long time. One service to provide your car with regularly is wiper blade maintenance. Here's everything you need to know. Potential Problems Visibility is fundamental to safe driving. Even so, many still wait to replace their windshield wipers until they are nearly unusable. Not only does this lead to unsafe conditions on the road, but it can even cause your windshield to become damaged. Wiper blades are one of those car parts that is not meant to last forever. So, over time, wiper blades begin to deteriorate. Here are some reasons why: Ultraviolet light and ozone deterioration from the sun. Rubber-deteriorating oil from car waxes and exhaust fumes. Airborne debris like sand, mud and dust. Moisture from acid rain and salt water. When windshield wipers begin to deteriorate, problems begin to occur. Here are some common problems you may see: This occurs when the rubber squeegee dries, hardens and cracked. It can also be caused by tree sap and other unknown substances that have collected on your windshield's glass or wiper blades. This occurs when a wiper blade develops a curvature from lack of use. The opposite of skipping wipers is wearing wipers. This problem happens with extensive use and means that the rubber edges have become rounded instead of squared. When exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, your wiper blades rubber squeegee becomes broken down and separates from the frame. Bent Frames. If the frames of your windshield wipers become vent, this will cause inconsistent contact with the windshield's glass surface. The result is skipping or streaking. Caring for Your Wiper Blades In order to keep visibility at its best, your wiper blades should be checked every six months and replaced at least once a year. Doing so will reduce the risk of unsafe driving conditions. Here are some things to look for when inspecting your wiper blades: Broke frame or detachment of frame arms at the joints or connection points. Metal corrosion, especially at the joints and claws. Visible cracks, tears or missing pieces from the edge of the rubber squeegee. Check to ensure squeegees are secure in the wiper frames. Check the wiping edge of the rubber squeegees for rounded edges to ensure they will make strong contact with the windshield. Pull on wiper blades to make sure they have been securely installed on the wiper arms. Check for flexibility by pushing the rubber squeegees back and forth. Aged squeegees have difficulty conforming to the shape of your windshield, creating streaks. To learn more about the 2017 Nissan Altima, and for all your automotive needs, visit our dealership in Harrisburg, PA.

The 2017 Nissan Altima is a great – and popular – choice for a four-door sedan. Not only does it provide distinctive styling, excellent comfort, and strong acceleration, but it also delivers high fuel economy, which is an obvious pro. But as winter weather becomes colder and harsher, you may notice your car's fuel economy declines. What does cold weather have to do with it? Continue reading to learn the effects of winter climates on fuel economy and what you can do about it. Poor Alternator/Battery Do you ever feel as though your bones and muscles don't work as efficiently in cold weather, making it hard to get moving? Well, the alternator and battery in your car experience the same problem. Cold weather wreaks havoc on alternators and batteries, causing them to work harder to maintain a steady charge in your car's electrical system. This extra energy your alternator and battery have to put out in order to keep your car running as it should leads to more fuel being burned. To combat this problem, it's important to ensure your alternator and battery are in good shape at the first signs of winter. You can have them checked for free at most all automotive stores or automotive dealers. Extra Weight Warm weather means many people choose to walk or bike places. But when cold weather hits, cars are the top choice of transportation. Unfortunately this means tackling wet and icy conditions, which can lead to dangerous situations. In order to ensure safety on winter roads, many choose to tote around extra safety gear that will provide their tires with better traction, like sand bags or kitty litter. While this is a good preventative safety measure, this extra weight added to your car can lead to a drop in fuel economy. Another thing that can increase the weight of your car in winter is a mound of snow on the roof. To make sure your car is lighter and saves on fuel, remove any items you don't need before driving, and also take the time to brush off any snow that has collected on your car's exterior. Decreased Aerodynamics Are you a snow bunny that likes to hit the slopes? Or, maybe you're someone who loves the thrill of a snowmobile flying through the blistery snow? Either way, activities like these require heavy equipment. Say you have to tote your skis to the slopes via your car's roof rack. This is a great way to get your equipment to your destination. Unfortunately, it can result in lower fuel economy. When packing things on your car's roof, your car becomes less aerodynamics, and fuel economy suffers. The best way to get better fuel economy is to always remove your winter gear from your roof top, along with the roof rack itself, when not being used. This will lighten your load and allow for better aerodynamics – two wins for fuel economy. Low Tire Pressure Tire pressure goes hand-in-hand with fuel economy. Tires with adequate pressure allow for much better fuel economy than those with low pressure. When pressure is low, tires have a harder time rolling along the road, and as a result, your car's engine has to work harder to get them moving. As you know, a harder working engine equals to a drop in fuel economy. While low tire pressure can be a problem any time of the year, it is much more likely in cold weather. This is because tires don't hold air as well in cold conditions. For every five degrees the temperature drops, tire pressure decreases by one psi. To keep fuel economy high, check your tires periodically throughout the winter season. For more information on the 2017 Nissan Altima, and for more automotive tips and tricks, visit our dealership in Harrisburg, PA.

Top Fuel Economy Myths Debunked Due to high gas prices and renewed strives toward fuel efficiency, drivers want to squeeze the most gas mileage out of their vehicles. One car that boasts great mpg is the 2016 Nissan Altima – a beloved midsize sedan. Unfortunately, while the Altima itself is a good choice for a fuel-saving car, there are many long-held beliefs about fuel economy that actually hinder drivers from increasing their mpg. Below we debunk a few of the top, well-known fuel economy myths. Continue reading to learn more. Good Fuel Economy is Only Found in Small Cars Smaller cars may have been more fuel efficient at one time, but this really isn't the case anymore. In order for a car to be fuel efficient, it is more about what's under the hood, the materials it's made of and its body design. Newer vehicles, for example, feature advanced technologies that allow them to offer competitive fuel economy. Technologies include: hybrid drive trains, diesel engines, turbochargers and low-rolling resistance tires. Manual Transmissions Equal Better Fuel Economy A myth that has continued for quite some time is that cars with a manual transmission provide better fuel economy. True at one time, things have changed and this is no longer true. Because of advancements in automatic transmission technology, automatic cars are much better at fuel economy. One reason is because automatic transmissions now have more gears than they once did, which helps them cut down on wasted fuel. Another reason automatics have surpassed manual transmissions in gas savings is because five-speeders, which were once such a fuel-saving dream, are rather rare now. Cars with automatic manual transmissions (AMTs) are great at achieving more mpg. AMTs help bridge the fuel gap between automatic and manual transmissions. By combining the best features of both transmissions, AMTs result in up to a seven percent increase in fuel efficiency. As Cars Age, Fuel Economy Drops A common misconception involving fuel economy is that as a vehicle ages, its fuel economy drops. In truth, age has nothing to do with a car's fuel economy. A properly maintained car engine will provide the same amount of fuel economy throughout its lifetime no matter how many years or miles are behind it. By providing your car's engine with regular maintenance, it will continue to run at top efficiency in all areas, including fuel economy. A Clean Air Filter Improves Mpg While older engines (like those with a carburetor) saw an increase in fuel economy when the air filter was replaced, modern engines do not. Modern, fuel-injected engines feature an onboard computer that measures the mass of air entering the engine and will automatically adjust the fuel flow as needed. This enables fuel-injected engines to deliver better fuel economy, lower emissions and a better performance overall. While a dirty air filter won't cause much, if any, change in fuel economy for modern engines, it is still important to replace them regularly. Doing so will help maintain your car's engine and can also improve acceleration by up to 11 percent. To learn more about the 2016 Nissan Altima and other fuel economy facts and myths, visit our Faulkner Nissan dealership in Harrisburg, PA. We are nearby to Carlisle, York and Mechanicsburg.

As you drive around in your 2016 Nissan Altima, you are probably rolling over all of the fallen leaves that are changing colors and littering the roadways as the fall season comes swooshing in. But before you get too comfortable with the color-changing leaves and so on, don't forget that just as quick as fall appears, the harsh, cold months of winter come flying in. This being said, it's a good idea to go ahead and prepare yourself for the winter driving that's ahead. Driving in winter can be very dangerous. A main reason for this is due to a lack of tire traction when enduring wet, icy and snowy roads. One way to prepare your car for the winter months ahead is by making sure your tires are in good shape. If you live in snowy areas, you will also want to invest in snow tires for ultimate winter-road traction. When inspecting your tires, there are a number of things to do. Inspect tread depth. If driving in wet and snowy conditions, your tires should have a tread depth of at least 1/8 inch. Check tire pressure. Cold, winter temperatures can cause tire pressure to drop. Tires that are under-inflated (do not have enough air) are prone to safety risks. Look for uneven tread wear. Tires with uneven treads suffer from a lack of traction with the road, a serious safety risk when driving in wet, icy and snowy conditions. Once you ensure your car's tires are in good winter condition, you can focus on the task at hand, which is driving. The following is a list of important tips to keep yourself safe when driving in winter. Clear Car of Snow and Ice Before you even climb into your car, it's important to take the time to clear off any snow or ice that has fallen onto it since it was last driven. Clearing a small spot on your windshield that creates just enough space for you to see the road while driving is a risky decision and can lead to dangerous situations. For optimal safety, thoroughly brush snow off of your vehicle, including the roof, and scrape all ice from the windows. Accelerate Slowly In warm weather, you can pretty much stomp on the gas pedal when you're ready to go and you won't experience any problems. In icy, wet or snowy conditions, this is simply not the case. Making your car accelerate quickly from a standstill can cause your wheels to spin from a lack of adequate traction, and as a result, your car goes nowhere. When on slick ice or snow, it's a good idea to put your car into second gear before pressing the gas pedal. Doing so will reduce the chances of having your wheels spin. Reduce Speed When driving in slippery conditions, your car's tires are more likely to lose their grip. When this occurs, all areas of your driving are affected, including braking, turning and accelerating. By reducing your speed, you will allow yourself more time to react to situations like slipping or a potential collision. Having more time to react will lessen the damage if something does go wrong. Allow a Longer Stopping Distance Winter roads require a longer stopping distance than roadways during dryer, warmer seasons. So prepare to stop sooner. Give yourself more time to stop and use gentle pressure when pressing the brake pedal. Braking that is too abrupt can lead to skidding and a failure to stop.   For more information on the 2016 Nissan Altima and other safety tips, just ask our professionals at our dealership in Harrisburg, PA.