Tips for Winterizing Your Vehicle

Located in the western part of the state and bordered by the Ohio River, the city of Owensboro, KY offers fantastic opportunities to explore the region and go on day trips in your new 2023 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring. Whether you want to visit the museums, restaurants, and historical landmarks of a big city, or get lost in nature in a sprawling state park, here are three nearby destinations you should check out. more 1. Louisville Home to nearly one and a half million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, Louisville is the largest city in the state of Kentucky and a great destination for those wanting to learn more about the history of the area and try some traditional local food. Known as the birthplace of boxer Muhammad Ali, Louisville is an important cultural hub that has something to offer for all types of visitors. The Louisville city center is located a little over 100 miles northeast of downtown Owensboro, making it possible to get here in about one hour and 45 minutes via routes I-64 and US-231. Some of the famous landmarks you should check out while exploring the city include the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Muhammad Ali Center, and the charming West Main District in the downtown area. 2. Hoosier National Forest If you are searching for a lush nature reserve where you can spend an entire day hiking in the woods and enjoying your favorite outdoor activities, Hoosier National Forest is the perfect place for a day trip. Composed of four separate sections and boasting a total area of over 200,000 acres, this national forest features several miles of nature trails, archeological sites, and an extensive network of natural caves. Created in the early 1960s and managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Hoosier National Forest is located just 80 miles northeast of the Owensboro city center and can be reached in about one hour and 20 minutes via routes US-231 and I-64. Some of the activities you can enjoy while exploring this beautiful nature reserve include wildlife watching, birding, mountain biking, and horseback riding. 3. Cave-In-Rock State Park Boasting an ancient natural cave and more than 200 acres of largely undeveloped wilderness, Cave-In-Rock State Park is another great destination for a day trip from Owensboro. Created in the late 1920s and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, this state park can be reached in a little under two hours by car via Audubon Parkway. No matter what type of trip you are thinking of, having a trusted and comfortable vehicle is a must for anyone wanting to explore the wonders of Kentucky. Stop by Champion Mazda Owensboro today, ask about our convenient financing plans, and meet our experienced team of expert sales agents.

Brakes undergo enormous strain and pressure during even an ordinary day of driving. No matter how durable and well-designed your brakes are, they will occasionally run into trouble and need parts replacing. But if you pay careful attention and nip problems in the bud early on, you'll never face major brake-related issues. Any of the following seven problems should prompt you to visit your Mazda dealer right away for brake repair. more Your Brake Fluid's Leaking This is perhaps the most dangerous of brake issues, as leaking brake fluid can swiftly lead to total brake failure. With fluid leaking, the hose connecting your brake pedal to the calipers no longer has hydraulic pressure. As such, your foot can no longer properly stop your car. Brake fluid is yellow in color when fresh, becoming a dirtier brown when old. If you ever notice a liquid like this pooling under your vehicle, don't start your car. You'll need to be towed to your nearest repair shop. Your Brake Fluid's Too Old Like any fluid in your car, brake fluid gradually loses its function with age. Generally speaking, you should have your brake fluid flushed and renewed every two years or so. This should be more frequent if you use your brakes more often than usual, or if you carry heavy loads. Have a Mazda Dealer Change Your Fluid You can change your own brake fluid, but it's a pretty messy, time-consuming affair. You'll also need specialist tools. For this reason, it's better to have your fluid changed at your local dealership. You Hear Clicking Sounds If bits of a caliper come loose, such as a bolt, screw, or clip, then you'll usually hear it clicking or clattering whenever you brake. Any loose parts can cause larger problems so have them refastened as soon as you can. You Hear Squealing Sounds Brake pads wear down at a steady pace. When a brake pad reaches a certain thinness, it starts to emit a high-pitched squealing noise. This noise means it's time for a new one. You Hear Grinding Sounds If for some reason a brake pad wears all the way down to almost nothing, you'll start hearing the harsh sound of metal grinding on metal. This means your rotor is being scored so it's wise to replace the faulty brake pad with all haste. You Feel Odd Vibrations When a rotor disc overheats, it can become warped or damaged. This leads to odd vibrations when you brake, which you'll feel through the brake pedal or steering wheel. You'll need to have the damaged rotor resurfaced or replaced. Your Brakes Are Sluggish Sluggish or spongy brakes are the scariest of warning signs. You should never drive with sluggish, unresponsive brakes. There could be a number of underlying issues. You'll need a technician to figure it out. Have highly qualified professionals inspect and repair your brakes today at Champion Mazda Owensboro. We're a well-established local dealership committed to treating every single person who steps through our doors to consistently superb customer service.

When that first hot Kentucky summer day arrives, your automatic reaction is to switch on the AC. If you turn the dial and discover you have a car AC not working, don't despair. Your friendly Mazda dealer in Owensboro, KY, can fix your problem. These are a few signs that your AC needs some help. more Nasty Smell From the AC A damp, earthy smell from the AC vent indicates that your AC has mold or bacteria. These organisms enter the AC system through the air vent. During the winter months, when your AC isn't used, the lack of air movement allows these organisms to grow. An AC system is dark and has small traces of water which provide the perfect environment for bacteria or mold to develop. Our technicians can easily fix this problem for you. We pump an anti-mold and anti-bacterial solution into the AC and then switch it on. This solution is blown through the system and rapidly clears the infestation away. We'll also replace the air filter in case any traces of mold are left behind. Your AC will be back to normal in no time. No Cold Air If your AC is producing cool, but not cold air, you could have a lack of refrigerant. Refrigerant is the gas that chills the air in your AC, and without it, your AC can't produce cold air. This gas isn't consumed by the AC, which means a low level of refrigerant can only be due to a leak somewhere in the system. We can check this for you and repair any leak in the system. A lack of cold air could also be due to a failed compressor clutch. The compressor is the part of your AC that converts refrigerant gas into a liquid, and it also controls your AC system. The clutch will switch the compressor on and off during the cooling cycle. The clutch can fail and this prevents the compressor from engaging. Our technicians will examine the clutch and replace it if it's broken. Refrigerant Leaks As we saw above, refrigerant is essential for your AC system. This gas changes between gas and liquid states several times during the cooling process. Metal fatigue and wear can open a leak in the closed AC system. If this happens, you'll lose refrigerant, and the AC won't work correctly. Our technicians use UV dye to trace the path of the refrigerant through your system. A special UV monitor allows them to identify the source of the leak. Once we've found the leak, we'll repair it and refill the refrigerant. If your AC is failing, call us today at Champion Mazda Owensboro, KY. Our experts will have your AC working again in no time.