Annual Food Share Donation • Bertera Chevrolet in Palmer

002 004 008

We recently made our annual donation of canned goods to the Palmer Food Share. With the holidays just around the corner now is the best time to donate to the Food Share or any Food Pantry for that matter. Everyone deserves a nice holiday meal, and you can make sure that happens with a small donation. For more information on volunteering opportunities or donations please contact the number below.

Palmer Food Share
39 Walnut St
Palmer, MA – 01069
(413) 283-3614
Hours
Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Please contact the number above before dropping off any donations.

Be sure to
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Add us to your circle on Google+
For more information visit our website

The 8th Annual Share The Love Event has Begun!

HFD

Now up until January 2nd Subaru of America will donate $250 to a charity of your choice when a new Subaru is purchased or leased!

During the 2014 Share The Love event we managed to raise $48,223 for Make-A-Wish of Mass & RI. Our goal for Share The Love 2015 is to raise even more money than last year, and we need your help to do so. Learn more about our local charity:

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island grants wishes for kids with life-threatening medical conditions to help provide them with hope and a beautiful memory. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, approximately 500 children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions each year. Our mission is to grant wishes for every single one of them. By the end of this year, Subaru and participating retailers will have donated over $65 million to charity and are one step closer to reaching our goal. For more information on Subaru’s Share The Love Event click here. Enjoy some of our favorite moments from last year’s Share The Love Event!

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Add us to your circle on Google+
Visit our website

Battery Maintenance

  

All Subaru vehicles are equipped with maintenance-free batteries. The term “maintenance-free” can be misleading – as these batteries do require some attention to maintain their cleanliness and efficiency.

It is extremely important to have your car’s battery checked by a Subaru-trained technician regularly. A battery check will include an examination of cable connections for cleanliness and tightness. Loose or corroded connections can dramatically diminish your car’s starting power; and if the connections grow loose or crusty enough, they can shut off your car’s electrical flow entirely and leave you thinking you have a dead battery.

High temperatures also reduce the efficiency at which a battery is recharged.

Fall/Winter driving conditions frequently require the use of A/C for extended periods while driving at slow speeds. This additional load requires the charging system to work properly so that it sufficiently charges the battery the next time you start your car’s engine. For this reason, your service technician should also check your battery’s charging system and voltage regulator, and inspect your vehicle’s alternator to ensure that all components are operating properly.

Black Friday has come early at Bertera!

Black Friday has come early this November

Take advantage of these amazing deals before it’s too late!
0% APR Financing for 75/MO plus $500 Bonus Cash on select Jeep & Ram truck models.
0% APR Financing for 75/MO plus $1500 Bonus Cash on select Chrysler models.
0% APR Financing for 75/MO plus available cash offers on select Charger & Grand Caravan models.

West Springfield Veteran’s Council 15th Annual Veteran’s Breakfast

November 7th marked the 15th Annual Veteran’s Breakfast. The event drew quite the crowd Saturday morning. The opening ceremony consisted of a medley of service songs before the presentation of colors. The National Anthem was then performed by Patti Hayward, who did a wonderful job, before the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the entire gymnasium. It was quite the sight. Following that was the POW ceremony and the serving of the food. The keynote speaker Major General Leon Scott Rice, MA. AG, of the Air Force then rose before the audience before he belted out a 10 minute long speech. The veteran’s awards were then presented, along with the West Springfield Veteran of the Year award. Which went to Lawrence Delgrego! The day wasn’t over yet with a slough of prizes to be given out to raffle winners.

We had a blast at the 15th Annual Veteran’s Breakfast and hope to be a part of the 16th Annual Veteran’s Breakfast! Thank you again to the West Springfield Veteran’s Council and all of our Veterans!

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Add us to your circle on Google+
Visit our website

Autumn Car Care Tips

  

With Fall/Winter weather fast approaching, now is the time to tackle the simple maintenance tasks that keep your Subaru in top running condition.

Timely maintenance does more than keep your Subaru running smoothly. It can help increase your car’s trade-in value, improve its mileage, and save you time and costly repairs down the road.

  • Belts. With the engine off, check your car’s belts for cracks and missing pieces. To check for proper tightness, press down on the belt with your thumb. If the belt gives more than half an inch, it needs tightening.
  • Hoses. When the car is cold, feel your car’s hoses for bulges, cracks, soft spots or brittleness. With the engine running, look for (but don’t touch) bulges or leaks. If you detect any, have the hose replaced. Note: Avoid replacing air conditioning hoses yourself. Their pressurized gases can cause serious injury.
  • Coolant. Check the level of coolant in your radiator by looking at the coolant overflow tank. Maintaining a 50/50 mix of antifreeze will keep your engine cool in hot weather and prevent damage when temperatures fall as low as 40 below zero. Note: Do not remove the radiator cap until the engine is turned off and has cooled down.
  • Oil. Depending on the driving conditions your Subaru is subjected to, change your oil and filter as recommended in your Owner’s Manual. Also, use the recommended oil grade.
  • Power Steering Fluid. To check, pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and insert it again. Pull it out again and check the level. If it is below the HOT range, add the recommended steering fluid up to the upper level mark. Note: If the fluid level is extremely low or fluid has been replaced, contact your Subaru dealer.
  • Brake Fluid. Check the fluid level on the outside of the tank using the lines on the reservoir as a guide. If the level is below MIN, add brake fluid from a sealed container to bring it up to MAX. You’ll notice a significant drop in fluid levels when there’s a leak. Note: Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. Any absorbed moisture can cause a dangerous loss of braking performance. If your brake fluid tank requires frequent refilling, there may be a leak. Contact your Subaru dealer immediately.
  • Air Filter. Again, depending on the condition of the roads traveled by your Subaru, routinely check your air filter for accumulated debris.
  • Battery. Check your battery terminals regularly, removing any corrosion with a toothbrush and a mix of baking soda and water.
  • Tires. Check your tire pressure (with tires cold) once a month or more. Keep tires inflated to manufacturer’s recommendations, which can be found on the driver’s side door frame placard and in the owner’s manual.
  • Wipers, Washers, Horn And Lights. Finally, be sure to check the operation of your car’s wipers, windshield washers, horn and lights. Tip: Isopropyl alcohol makes wiper blade clean-up a snap!

When should I purchase new tires?

  

We all know that tires wear. There are certain things you, as an owner, can do to help minimize this wear.

Keep your tires properly inflated. This is perhaps the single most important thing you can do. Information on correct tire inflation pressure is provided in your owner’s manual and on a placard on the driver’s door pillar. How often you check your tire inflation is up to you. As a rule of thumb, tires should be checked every time you fill your car with gas. Remember that tires should be checked when cold since tire pressure will increase as the tires warm up.

Rotate your tires regularly. SUBARU recommends tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles. These are recommended intervals only. Your actual driving conditions may warrant more frequent rotation. Factors such as road surfaces, driving techniques/habits, vehicle loading, and weather, to name just a few, can all have an effect on tire wear.

Tire Replacement. The wheels and tires are important and integral parts of your vehicle’s design; they cannot be changed arbitrarily. The tires fitted as standard equipment are optimally matched to the characteristics of the vehicle and were selected to give the best possible combination of running performance, ride comfort, and service life. It is essential for every tire to have a size and construction as well as a speed symbol and load index matching those shown on the tire placard. Using tires of a non-specified size detracts from controllability, ride comfort, braking performance and speedometer and odometer accuracy. It also creates incorrect body-to-tire clearances and inappropriately changes the vehicle’s ground clearance. All four tires must be the same in terms of manufacturer, brand (tread pattern), construction, and size. You are advised to replace the tires with new ones that are identical to those fitted as standard equipment.

For safe vehicle operation, SUBARU recommends replacing all four tires at the same time. WARNING: All four tires must be the same in terms of manufacturer, brand (tread pattern), construction, degree of wear, speed symbol, load index and size. Mixing tires of different types, sizes or degrees of wear can result in damage to the vehicle’s power train. Use of different types or sizes of tires can also dangerously reduce controllability and braking performance and can lead to an accident. Use only radial tires. Do not use radial tires together with belted bias tires and/or bias-ply tires. Doing so can dangerously reduce controllability which can result in an accident.

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Add us to your circle on Google+
Visit our website

When should I get a tune-up?

  

Does Your Car Need a Tune-up?

A couple of years have passed since you had your Subaru tuned up. But is it really running smoothly? As you drive each day, observe any changes in its performance. There may be good reasons to get a tune-up sooner than you think.

If you are used to do-it-yourself maintenance, some of today’s computerized controls may not make possible problems as obvious to you as they were in the past. That’s why preventative diagnosis is so important to keep your Subaru running trouble-free for years.

If you detect a change in your car’s performance, however, call your Subaru technician right away!

  • Hard Starting. The most common car trouble, usually due to neglected maintenance. If the starter cranks the engine, the electrical system is probably okay. The problem could be as simple as a starting sensor (or the choke mechanism if applicable).
  • Knocking. A noise usually heard when the engine is “under load,” like during acceleration or climbing a hill. It can be caused by inferior fuel, but is often a sign your engine needs attention. Many cars now have knock sensors built in to correct minor problems, but they can’t compensate for larger malfunctions that could result in engine damage.
  • Rough Running. This can be caused by a problem in the fuel or ignition system, or by a troubled valve or piston. Tell your technician when it occurs: When idling? During acceleration? At all speeds?
  • Poor Gas Mileage. Keep track of your mileage. Changes may be due to underinflated tires, engine running too cold, transmission malfunction, dragging brakes or misaligned wheels.
  • Stalling. Causes can include incorrect idle speed, adjustments, malfunctioning sensor or switch, dirty fuel system parts, worn spark plugs or other engine deficiencies. Take note: Does the engine stall when hot? Cold? With air conditioning on?
  • Dieseling. Also known as “after-run.” The engine keeps chugging and coughing for a few seconds after you shut off the ignition. Causes can range from inferior gasoline and high idle speed to carbon in the combustion chamber.
  • Power Loss. A dirty fuel filter commonly causes power loss. Preventative maintenance can help.

Don’t Ignore Small Warning Signs! Take preventative measures before there are problems … call your Subaru technician when it’s tune-up time.

Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Add us to your circle on Google+
Visit our website

Fill-A-FIAT Coat Drive Event • Bertera Auto Group

The Fill-A-FIAT event is over but that is no excuse to throw away good coats! We are proud to announce that we will continue to be a drop off location for the Springfield Rescue Mission. Below you will find a slideshow of our favorite pictures from the event. We collected just under 100 coats not to mention the amount of phone calls we have received in regards to future donations. Thanks to you, one hundred people will be a little warmer this winter. Bertera Auto Group and The Springfield Rescue Mission thank you for your support and keep those coats coming!

Visit us on social media!