Autumn Roads

Posted on September 27, 2013 by randrinc

Soon the gorgeous highways and byways of Virginia will boast the flaming colors of fall. Don’t let September slide into November without setting aside time to enjoy a drive through the country side.

For exciting road trips right here in Virginia, check out these links:

Virginia is for lovers. This web site details more than a dozen exciting Virginia road trips you can take.

Shenandoah National Park Fall Foliage Report. Updated every Thursday through the end of October, this web site will help you schedule your trip on Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah National Park to catch the peak of autumn beauty.

Pre-trip check-up. If you plan to take a road trip of more than an afternoon, be sure your car is road-ready. We want the only surprise you encounter to be nature’s beauty, not car trouble.

Before your road trip

Posted on April 25, 2013 by randrinc

BEFORE YOUR ROAD TRIP

Nothing is more exciting than setting off on the open road for adventure. And nothing is more disappointing than car trouble during a vacation, when you are far from home and your local repair facility. We offer the following tips — direct from ConsumerReports.org — for preparing your car for a trouble-free and enjoyable trip.

Prepare Your Car for a Trip

Fluids. Don’t just fill up the windshield wiper fluid reservoir. Make sure the oil, brake, and coolant fluids are topped off.
Battery. Nothing spoils a road trip like a car that won’t start. Before you leave, check your battery to be sure it’s in top shape and has clean terminals. If the terminals are dirty, clean them with a little baking soda and water.
Engine Belt. Most drive belts are flat rubber belts with ridges on the inside. Inspect these ridges. If you see deep cracks or sections missing, replace the belt.
Tires. Read the rubber. If your tires do not have a good amount of tread left or if they have tears or bulges in the side walls, replace the tires before your trip. Also inspect the valve stem for cracks. Finally, be sure the tires are set to the inflation pressure that is printed on the door placard on the driver’s door jam.
Brakes. Have a professional check the brake pads to be sure they aren’t worn or in need of replacement.
Packing. Overloading your vehicle can reduce fuel efficiency and also affect the safety of your vehicle. Pack heavy items in the cargo space, and pack only lighter, bulky items in a car-top carrier. Heavy roof loads can make the car more difficult to handle in emergency situations and increase the risk of a roll over. Also, the total weight a car can carry usually is listed on the door placard inside the driver’s door jam.
GPS Navigation System. In our experience, a GPS system is well worth the expenditure. Not only do they help you get where you’re going, but they make it easier to find gas stations and restaurants and to avoid traffic congestion.

Source: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/07/road-trip-preptips-for-getting-the-car-ready-.html

Distracted Driving

Posted on January 13, 2013 by randrinc

The facts about distracted driving:

Click here for info from DistractedDriving.gov

Click here for info from the National Safety Council

Click here for facts from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Christmas 2012 Gift Coupon

Posted on December 4, 2012 by randrinc

Gifts from the Practical to the Whimsical for the Driver in Your Life

Posted on November 27, 2012 by randrinc

The R&R Auto 2012 Holiday Wishlist

Gifts from the Practical to the Whimsical for the Driver in Your Life

The three gifts below are recommended by Popular Mechanics and are available on Amazon.com. Click the photos for the links.

See the whimsical side of our wishlist below! Just click on the photo that piques your interest–from left, the die cast Jaguar, middle, the stock car experience, and right, the Kiddie Mercedes Benz.

Back to the practical, and fun! Click the photos for the cup holder and the Skip Barber Racing school. If you would like to give an R&R Auto Service gift certificate, please call us at 703-430-0770, and we will email you, in PDF form, a gift certificate in the amount of your choice, as well as a receipt. Thank you so much for your business!

Products & Services Your Car Does Not Need

Posted on October 24, 2012 by randrinc

Three products your car doesn’t need

Just as there are cosmetics that are useless, there are car products that are useless, too. While none of these are big-ticket items, those nickels and dimes add up.

Oil additives. Your engine needs the correct oil, changed regularly. Oil additives not only don’t work, but can be harmful.
Gas-savers. The EPA has tested them all, and they don’t work. Some can even lower engine performance.
Nitrogen fill of tires. Don’t do it, unless you just enjoy burning cash.

Four services your car doesn’t need

No matter what that service manager says, your car does not need the following procedures:

Engine flush. What your engine does need are regular oil changes.
Fuel-injection cleaning. This unnecessary service could set you back as much as $200.
Transmission flush. Flushing the transmission can stir up sediment that can then travel into small passages, such as precision valves, and affect the shifting quality of the transmission. If anything, R&R would recommend an alternate procedure, a drain and refill, which minimizes the chances of agitating sediment. You don’t really need a drain and refill, either, but if you decide you like the idea, do it regularly or not at all to minimize the chances of transmission damage. We recently encountered a customer whose transmission was destroyed in the aftermath of a dealer-advised transmission flush.
Power steering flush. In our experience, this is unnecessary unless a failed steering component is being replaced.

Make an Appointment

Posted on May 5, 2012 by randrinc

Online Appointment Form

Please provide the following information:

Name:

Work Phone:

Home Phone:

Fax (opt):

E-mail:

Car Year:

Car Make:

Car Model:

Has your car been here before?

Yes

Appointment Month:
(Please allow at least 36 Hrs)

Date:

Wait:

(Oil changes only, Please specify time desired in service list box)

Drop off:

(We have a night-drop box at the back of the building)

Please list the services you want us to carry out

Preferred form of confirmation:

E-mail

Fax

Home Phone

Work Phone

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Rental Car Request

Posted on May 5, 2012 by randrinc

Rental Car Service

Need transportation while your car is in our shop?

R&R would be happy to arrange for a rental car for you.

Please phone us 24 hours before you plan to bring us your car, or email us.

Repair/Maintenance Estimate Request

Posted on May 5, 2012 by randrinc

Repair/Maintenance Estimate Request

Download this form as a PDF: RandR-form.pdf
Right-click, then Save As

Please provide us with the following information:

Name:

Work Phone:

Home Phone:

Cell Phone:

Other Phone:

Where can we reach you today?

Work

Home

Cell

Other

Primary E-mail:

Alternate E-mail:

Fax:

About your vehicle:

Car Year:

Car Make

Car Model

Has your car been here before?

Yes

What would be a good date and time for this service?
We will call you to confirm.

Wait:

(Oil changes only: please specify time you would like to pick up your vehicle in the Services box below)

Drop off:

(We have a night-drop box at the back of the building)

Please list the services you want us to carry out:

Factory Recommended Maintenance service for this mileage

Oil & Filter Change

Lubrication

A/C Service

Check Brakes

Service Engine Cooling System

Rotate Tires

Other

Preferred form of confirmation:

E-mail

Fax

Home Phone

Work Phone

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Drop Off / Counter Form

Posted on May 5, 2012 by randrinc

Counter Form

Download this form as a PDF: RandR-form.pdf
Right-click, then Save As

Please provide us with the following information:

Name:

Work Phone:

Home Phone:

Cell Phone:

Other Phone:

Where can we reach you today?

Work

Home

Cell

Other

Primary E-mail:

Alternate E-mail:

Fax:

About your vehicle:

Car Year:

Car Make

Car Model

Has your car been here before?

Yes

What would be a good date and time for this service?
We will call you to confirm.

Wait:

(Oil changes only: please specify time you would like to pick up your vehicle in the Services box below)

Drop off:

(We have a night-drop box at the back of the building)

Please list the services you want us to carry out:

Factory Recommended Maintenance service for this mileage

Oil & Filter Change

Lubrication

A/C Service

Check Brakes

Service Engine Cooling System

Rotate Tires

Other

Preferred form of confirmation:

E-mail

Fax

Home Phone

Work Phone

Please enter text from image: Refresh Image | What’s This?