Author: WestphalChevy

Auto battery questions

Auto battery questions

Auto Battery Questions

Q: Why won’t my car start?

A: There are numerous reasons why a vehicle won’t start. If it’s related to the battery, the starter will generally not crank the engine. This is the telltale “click, click, click” when you turn the key. This could be an alternator not charging the battery properly, a loose battery or starter cable, or a battery that needs to be replaced. Because batteries only crank for 3 seconds, in most cases, there may be no “slow crank” warning. That is why it is important to get your battery tested by a Chevrolet Certified Service professional such as Ron Westphal Chevrolet.

Do I need to charge my auto battery after I jump-start my vehicle?

A: In most instances, normal driving will recharge the battery unless there is an issue with the vehicle. If your vehicle does not start after driving it, it’s recommended that you take your vehicle to your nearest Certified Service experts to have a diagnosis performed.

What are the main causes of auto battery failure?

Batteries wear out over time, but there are also issues that impact battery failure, for example, unusual “parasitic drains” such as adding accessories but not properly grounding them, infrequent startup, and discharged batteries freezing at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Q: What should I consider when buying an auto battery?

A: ACDelco recommends the right balance of Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and Reserve Capacity (RC). A higher CCA battery will not start your car faster. This is due to gear reduction starters, lower viscosity oils, fuel injection, etc. The average car cranks no more than 3 seconds and as a result does not need more CCA than what the vehicle manufacturer recommends. With the addition of vehicle electronics, RC is becoming more important. Select a battery that has the right amount of CCA, found in your Owner’s Manual and as much RC as you can.

Q: What kind of preventative maintenance can I perform for my auto battery?

A: The best thing that you can do is have your Certified Service technician perform a conductance test on your battery when you get your oil changed. This helps to monitor the status of the battery and helps prevent you from being in a situation where your vehicle won’t start.

Need a battery?  Have a car or truck questions?  Call Ron Westphal Chevrolet at 630-898-9630 or visit our website  or our Service Specials Page today.

Illinois man to restore father’s vintage pickup truck | Local | herald-review.com

1950 chevrolet 3100 pickup truckAfter returning home from Vietnam, Wendell Wingert bought a 1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup truck and drove it home from Fort Hood, Texas.

After returning home from Vietnam, Wendell Wingert bought a 1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup truck and drove it home from Fort Hood, Texas.

The Bronze Star recipient often picked up his wife, Mary, in the truck when they were dating. When they had kids, it sat on their Bonfield farm until they sold it to a neighbor almost 30 years ago.

But, the old, rusted-up truck is back in the family again. Wendell’s son, Leland Wingert, recently bought it back from a farmer for $1,000. It surprised Leland because the cheapest 3100 he found online was $5,000 and in worse condition.

Now, he has the chance to restore the family truck in remembrance of his father, who died two years ago, and see it run for the first time in his life.

“It was emotional when I bought it back,” the 43-year-old Kankakee County sheriff’s deputy admitted. “It brought tears to my eyes. I never expected I would get it.”

When Wingert picked it up, the tires still held air. However, the truck is missing headlights and glass. It also needs a new fuel pump and some other work.

“I’ll drive it how it looks once it’s road-ready,” Wingert said. “As far as the interior, I want it to match the exterior. I may just throw a horse blanket over the seats. It’s not going to look much different than this.

“My mom says it’s a piece of junk,” he added with a laugh. “My dad would probably say it’s a waste of time. I could imagine him asking me, ‘Why would you put time into this?’ But I’m a gearhead, and I want to see this thing run.”

Wingert does not have a timeline on restoring the truck. He has been working on a 1974 Chevy Nova for 15 years and built an engine for his 1972 Ford F-250. But he already has plans on how he will celebrate the truck’s reincarnation.

“Once it’s complete, I’m going to drive it to Maple Grove Cemetery and take a picture of it next to my father’s grave,” he said. “This is all in remembrance of my father. It’s just nice to have it back in the family.”

If you are looking for an older truck to restore, or something newer or brand new–call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit our website.

Source: Illinois man to restore father’s vintage pickup truck | Local | herald-review.com

2018 Chevrolet Traverse Review: A Handsome Crossover SUV That Really Handles – The Drive

2018 chevrolet traverse reviewCan’t abide a minivan? Chevy’s cavernous new hauler shoots up towards the top of the kid-toting class.

After having driven a Sunday brunch’s worth of soft-boiled SUVs and crossovers dainty as a French éclair in 2017, the Chevrolet Traverse proved a literally squarer, more satisfying meal. Put Chevy’s redesigned SUV on the list of the year’s biggest, best surprises.

Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet to find your perfect new or pre-owned Traverse or call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 today.  We stock a large variety of new and pre-owned models!

I honestly wasn’t expecting all that much from the new version of the Traverse. Released back in 2009, as General Motors was tumbling into bankruptcy, this three-row family hauler struck me as thoroughly capable‚ but duller than suburban lawn care. The Traverse was the most bus-like and utilitarian of a GM family that also included the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia.

2018 chevrolet traverse interiorBut where the all-new Acadia and Enclave have been downsized, the Michigan-built Traverse actually expands slightly for the latest version, including a two-inch wheelbase stretch to 120.9 inches—just 10 inches shyginal Canyonero, the Chevy Suburban. This new package carves out moof the orire passenger and cargo space than anything in the class—a long roster of minivan alternatives than includes the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, and Mazda CX-9. Interior space squeaks past even the enormous Volkswagen Atlas, whether you’re talking space behind the third row, second row, or with all seats folded.

2018 Chevrolet Traverse Interior MyLInk Secret StorageThe bigger surprise is that the Traverse drives more like a smaller, nimbler SUV than the seven- or eight-passenger truckster it is. Its outstanding chassis tuning convinced me that the engineers earned their overtime, or at least took inspiration from the Camaro team. Shedding up to 360 pounds versus the previous model, including a 111-pound reduction for the chassis alone, the Traverse combines a tranquil ride with skillful handling that defies its girth.  Of those competitors I just cited, only the CX-9 feels more sprightly and car-like—and that Mazda is a relatively scrawny SUV, with decisively less cargo space and a third row that should really be described as row 2.5.

Chalk up another win for the restyled body. This Traverse is one big, handsome lug. Not surprisingly, the Traverse’s Coke-bottle profile, with its nipped waist and crisply flared fenders, came out of Chevy’s truck design studio, and it previews styling cues you’ll be seeing on one of GM’s most critical models: A redesigned Silverado pickup for the 2019 model year, followed by a new Tahoe around 2020. Where so many minivan alternatives, especially the insipid Asian variety—the Pilot, Highlander, and Pathfinder—seem like culprits for the nation’s low-testosterone phenomenon, the brawnier Chevy seems sure to attract dads who’d like to hold their head up on the way to school, band practice, or a convenience-store run for Huggies. Yet the Traverse isn’t a macho Mack Truck cartoon (not a Dodge, in other words), so moms won’t mind taking the wheel and admiring those muscles as well. I find it the best-looking Chevy truck in years. And the styling bodes well for models to come, including the Silverado (in Z71 off-road trim) that Chevy dropped a few days ago at Texas Motor Speedway prior to its January auto show debut in Detroit.

There’s also useful muscle behind the Chevy’s big chrome grill (or the blacked-out version on the RS trim level). GM’s direct-injection, “high feature” 3.6-liter V-6 gets a 10-percent bump to 310 horsepower (up from a base 281 horsepower), with an identical 266 pound-feet of torque. That’s accompanied by an efficient nine-speed transmission that’s as impressively tuned as the suspension. It replaces GM’s sluggish old six-speed—or more accurately, renders it obsolete.

Throw in the Traverse’s substantial weight loss, and this Chevy can surge from 0-60 mph in a fleet 6.7 seconds, a full second quicker than before. After years, nay decades, of mediocre GM automatics, this Hydra-Matic nine-speed, co-developed with Ford for transverse-engine applications, is a keeper. The three extra cogs fit into the same space as the former six-speed, and the entire unit weighs just 22 pounds more. There’s none of the obtrusive gear hunting or indecision that plagues some rival nine-speeds, including from Chrysler and Honda. Squeeze the throttle gently, and the tranny eases down one gear. Hammer it, and it may downshift three or four gears at a go, but without long delays or clunky engagements. The combination makes this big beast quite adept at passing, able to squirt through holes in traffic in snappy fashion.

Source: 2018 Chevrolet Traverse Review: A Handsome Crossover SUV That Really Handles – The Drive

Kelley Blue Book 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Review

Kelley Blue Book 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Review

Kelley Blue Book 2017 Chevrolet Bolt ReviewGM’s first mass-producible/mass-market electric car, the Chevrolet Bolt EV sets a new standard for acceptance by potential real-world buyers. Fitted with a huge 60-kWh battery pack — the biggest to appear in any non-exotic electric car to date — the Bolt EV in LT or up-line Premier form offers a benchmark 238-mile EPA per-charge range. That stat alone makes this ultra-green Chevy genuinely viable as a primary-use vehicle for a significant number of U.S. drivers. But the Bolt EV is a whole lot more. A natural rival to the Nissan Leaf and more affordable than a BMW i3, this cleanly styled, well-finished compact hatch boasts impressive room for five and their belongings, a sporty demeanor and offers features that rival those of many pricier conventional vehicles.

Looking for a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt?  We still have some in stock.  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit our website.

What’s New for 2017

Latest addition to the division’s lineup, the Chevrolet Bolt EV is a completely new offering built on a dedicated platform and fitted with an advanced electric powertrain that gives this compact 5-door hatch an outstanding 238-mile-per-charge range and excellent real-world drivability to match its solid functionality.

Read the full Kelley Blue Book 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Review:  2017 Chevrolet Bolt Review

You may also like this article about the 2018 Chevy Bolt

2018 Chevrolet Tahoe RST Proves Big Is Back

Tahoe RSTBig is back, baby, as full-size SUVs are resurging in popularity while gas prices remain relatively cheap. Despite it being several years since the Chevrolet Tahoe got a redo, it’s still top of the charts in terms of sales numbers — and Chevy aims to keep it there with special models like this one, the new 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe RST.

Looking for a Tahoe?  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630.

Related: 2018 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe RST Preview

Meant to provide the ultimate urban street-themed luxury truck from the Chevrolet brand, RST by itself is an appearance package that stands for rally sport truck. You start with one Chevrolet Tahoe in the Premier trim package, which already includes a fully trimmed leather interior with heated and cooled seats, forward collision warning with a safety alert driver’s seat, lane keep assist, low-speed forward emergency braking and GM’s Magnetic Ride Control suspension. Then check the RST package box, which brings you blacked-out trim, a black grille, a black Chevy bow tie in the grille, 22-inch black-and-polished wheels, black mirror caps, beltline moldings and roof rails. Headlamp accents, grille surround and door handles are all in whatever body color you’ve chosen for the truck.

Performance Package

But the appearance package isn’t what makes the RST interesting (these parts or approximations of them can be had at any Chevy dealership with a parts catalog). What makes the RST special is the option to specify the Performance Package as well, which adds a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that pumps out 420 horsepower and 460 pounds-feet of torque. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, the same one found in the Camaro ZL1. The combination is good for zero-to-60 mph sprints of 5.7 seconds and a max towing capacity of 8,400 pounds (obviously not at the same time) according to Chevrolet. The Performance Package also includes the Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension with a special performance calibration for the suspension and the steering. There are two more options you can spec as well, independent of the Performance Package: a Brembo big brake kit for the front wheels and a Borla-brand dual exhaust system.

What it all adds up to is a performance Tahoe, a street machine that rumbles like a monster truck and delivers smooth, seamless thrust like a fine German sports car. The 10-speed automatic is brilliant, with shift quality that’s barely perceptible — put your foot down, and you’re rewarded with a long, strong head of steam from the small-block V-8 engine. But getting a big truck to go fast in a straight line isn’t difficult. Getting it to handle and stop is a more challenging matter, and Chevy engineers have done an astonishingly good job of it.

Handling Improved

The most immediately noticeable change, beyond the louder rumble from the big V-8, is the on-center steering feel — it’s vastly better than a stock Tahoe, or even the Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle that I piloted a few minutes prior to my spin in the RST. Chevy has ramped up the steering effort required to turn the Tahoe RST, but the result is also a truck with exceptional straight-line stability and highway manners. Body control is also impressive, and the ride is exceptional thanks to the continually adjusting suspension that measures the road and instantly adapts the damping levels. The performance calibration does good things for the body’s roll and pitch in turns, and lends the Tahoe a level of confidence that it’s been lacking since … well, always.

The interior is still straight Tahoe, however, albeit a very nice one thanks to the Premier trim level’s leather and wood. It’s screwed together well, features some genuinely nice cowhide on the console and seats, and even smells expensive. But the Tahoe’s truck-platform drawbacks remain, such as a third row that’s remarkably cramped for such a big SUV, a high liftover height for the cargo area and a steering wheel that’s not quite centered on the driver.

Costly, But Competitive

Yet the biggest issue with the Tahoe RST may be its price — it starts with a Tahoe Premier 4×4, which will cost you $66,425 right off the bat, including destination. Add the RST package, the Performance Package, Borla exhaust, Brembo brakes and a sunroof package and you’re looking at an as-equipped sticker price of $78,450. That’s Range Rover money for a Chevy — just above the base Cadillac Escalade trim level, which includes the 6.2-liter V-8, at $77,590. It’s one of the best-looking, best-performing Chevy trucks the brand has ever made, but that’s a bit of sticker shock. Thing is, it’s still competitively priced versus other big full-size SUVs these days — the years of these vehicles being a viable alternative for family minivans is over, and they’re back to being pricey specialty vehicles aimed at a specific buyer. But if your shopping list this holiday season includes a big, expensive, American SUV that both tows boats and hauls ass, Chevy’s created a tasty one for you.

You may also enjoy This Article about the RST Special Edition

Source: 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe RST Proves Big Is Back, But OMG MSRP | News | Cars.com

2019 Chevrolet Silverado flies in for a brief introduction

2019 Chevrolet Silverado pictureGM’s pivotal new full-size pickup drops in for a surprise reveal in Texas.

FYI–Ron Westphal Chevy has heard the pickup bed on the all -new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado will be partially made with lightweight carbon fiber…but even we don’t know for sure.

Well, it looks like Chevrolet knows how to make an entrance. The company surprised a group of media and Chevy truck owners at with a first look at the 2019 Silverado by flying the truck in by helicopter. The presentation came Saturday at a centennial celebration staged at Texas Motor Speedway.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado picture front and backGeneral Motors remains mum on specs for the next-generation full-sized pickup, saying only that it will be lighter weight and come in eight trims, including the new Silverado LT Trailboss shown here. This model includes everything on the off-road specific Z71 package and adds a factory-backed two-inch suspension lift.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado picture drivers side

This truck — and its GMC Sierra twin — are the bedrock of GM’s entire business model. Even bearing in mind the Silverado’s spectacular helicopter fly-in, there may be splashier new vehicle introductions this year, but none will be as important to their automaker as this pickup.

We’ll get a closer look at the Silverado at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Thanks for reading about 2019 Chevrolet Silverado.  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 for additional information or visit our website anytime.

Source: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado flies in for a brief introduction

12 Days of Christmas Daily Prize Give-A-Way Day 2

Would you like to enter our 12 Days of Christmas Daily Prize Give-A-Way Contest?  It’s easy.  Just like our Facebook Page to be automatically entered!

12 Days of Christmas Daily Prize Give-A-Way Day 2 Winner Announced.

  • Watch Jennifer announce the Day 2 winner!

Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 and they’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.  Visit our website anytime!

Nabbing a Ride in the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1755 hp is a number many didn’t believe would ever be available on a road car. Yet there is a host of supercars, the 2019 Corvette ZR1 is the newest.

ROSAMOND, California—755 hp is a number many didn’t believe would ever be available on a road car. Yet there is a host of road-going supercars that are members of the 700 club, the newest being the 2019 Corvette ZR1. However, where other club members rely on mid-engine traction, the Corvette ZR1 is an old-school battle axe that takes aim at Porsche’s GT2 RS scalpel, Ferrari’s stiletto-like 488 GTB, and McLaren’s 720S sharpshooter. From the passenger seat, the Corvette ZR1 should’ve been called “Normandy: Part Two.”Source: Nabbing a Ride in the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 | Automobile Magazine

Looking for a Corvette?  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit our website to pick out your perfect muscle car. 

HANS secured, helmet strapped, I lowered myself into the pre-production Corvette ZR1, still covered in the camouflage and dirt it acquired during testing in Germany at the Nürburgring. Behind the wheel is Chevrolet’s development driver, Alex MacDonald. After I’m buckled in, I shake Alex’s hand and ask, “So, what can this baby do?” Alex replies, “Watch,” and slams my head into the headrest. Expletives and giggles followed.

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 side rear viewWithin a blink of the eye, we’re at turn 1 of Willow Springs International Raceway’s Big Willow course. While Alex isn’t fazed, my eyes haven’t returned to their upright and locked position. The key to the Corvette ZR1’s prodigious propulsion is Chevrolet’s new LT5 supercharged V-8. While much of the LT5 is rooted in the Corvette Z06’s LT4, there are some quite significant departures from the Z06’s supercharged small-block, including the mammoth 2.65-liter supercharger. Combined with a new 73-mm throttle body, a new dual fuel system that uses both direct and port injection, a new oil system, and a few other go-faster bits, the Corvette ZR1 makes a whopping 715 lb-ft of torque along with those 755 horses.