Five Signs Your Nissan Needs an Oil Change

The battery provides the electrical charge that cranks the engine so it can start. Over time, the battery will wear out or become damaged by other issues in the engine. As your Nissan dealership, we want you to know a few signs you need to visit us for a battery replacement. more Swollen Battery Case Your battery has a tough plastic casing with smooth, straight sides. The casing protects the battery chemicals from contamination and also prevents them from leaking into your engine. If you look at your battery and the case is distorted or bulges, the battery is seriously damaged. This distortion is caused by increased pressure inside the casing due to extremely hot or cold temperatures. Cold temperatures cause the electrolyte solution to solidify and expand, forcing the casing to bulge outward. Hot temperatures can make the electrolyte boil. Since the boiling electrolyte increases pressure inside the battery, the casing will distort. We can't repair a damaged battery case, but we can install a new battery to fix this problem. Weak Alternator The alternator is a mini generator that produces electricity for all your Ford's systems once our engine is running. It's also responsible for recharging the battery. As time passes, components wear out, and a worn alternator will gradually produce less power. The drop in power supply is irreversible and will affect recharging. With less power available from the alternator, the battery can't recharge completely. The amount of power used to start your engine is relatively fixed, and the reduced recharging rate will eventually drain your battery, causing it to fail. A failing alternator can also trigger the check battery light as a warning that something is wrong. We'll test and replace the alternator if it's weak and recharge your battery. Check Battery Light The check battery light illuminates in response to any problem affecting the electrical system. Sensors in the system monitor each component, and they're sensitive enough to detect the slightest changes. This information is sent to your vehicle's computer, which logs it and activates the warning light. A failing battery will trigger this light if its voltage output drops too low. A healthy battery has a voltage output of approximately 12.6 volts. If it drops to 12 volts, this signals a problem. It could be as simple as a loose battery connector reducing the battery's recharging ability, or it could be a more serious issue, like battery failure due to age or damage. Our technicians will connect your computer to our diagnostic system to identify the cause of the problem, and then we'll repair it. If you have a battery problem, contact us ASAP at Courtesy Nissan in Altoona, PA.

Shopping for a new Nissan often comes with the burden of applying for and securing a car loan. To streamline the process and save time, you can find a range of competitive financing options right here at your Altoona Nissan dealership. Multiple Financing Options One of the main benefits of securing financing from your dealership is the comprehensive range of finance options you won't find elsewhere. As a Nissan partner, we offer a range of loan options directly from the automaker, including exclusive loan deals for select vehicles. Through us, you can also apply for a traditional car loan or opt to lease a vehicle. Leasing is often a great option to avoid a down payment, and it gives you the possibility to purchase the vehicle at the end of the lease term. Competitive Deals Beyond exclusive loan deals, you can take advantage of a range of exclusive dealership deals when getting a car loan through us. For instance, military buyers and college graduates can save on the vehicle's purchase price and combine these savings with other local or national incentives to reduce the vehicle's price and the amount they have to borrow. Trade-ins and price reductions on exclusive models bring further savings. Quick Application Process If saving time is one of your priorities, you'll be happy to know that applying for a car loan through your dealership is a lot faster than applying through banks and credit unions. That's because you only have to fill in one application form that our financial team will submit to various local and national lenders. You can even apply online to get pre-approved and speed up your application's processing time. Auto Finance Expertise Finding financing solutions tailored to your needs can be challenging when applying for a loan at your bank or credit union. These lenders offer a wide range of loan and credit types, meaning they are not specialized in auto loans. Our in-house financial team, on the other hand, deals exclusively with car loans and can find the right solution for you regardless of your credit score or credit history. Guaranteed Asset Protection Another huge advantage of getting a car loan through Courtesy Nissan is our Guaranteed Asset Protection program. This protection program is designed to cover any insurance coverage gap in case your vehicle gets stolen or damaged before the loan is paid in full. In this way, you won't have to pay the loan out of your pocket for an asset you might not be able to use. If you want to find out more about our financing solutions, contact us at Courtesy Nissan in Altoona, PA. Our specialized team will answer any questions you might have and schedule your appointment.

Exhaust problems lead to increased pollution and decreased ​engine performance and fuel efficiency. If something is wrong with your Nissan exhaust, your Nissan dealership can fix the problem. ​We'd like you to know a few signs you need to visit us for an exhaust repair. Blockage in the Exhaust Combustion produces a range of dangerous and toxic gases. These gases are released when the cylinders open and are directed into the catalytic converter. The gases are converted to less harmful chemicals inside the converter and then pushed through the exhaust system to exit the tailpipe. Damage to the tailpipe or any blockage in the exhaust will cause serious engine problems. If the gases can't exit your vehicle, they flow back into your engine. They increase pressure in the engine, which can cause misfiring, stalling, or force your engine to shut down. If the exhaust is clogged, your engine might even shut down seconds after it starts as the accumulated gases prevent it from working. We'll remove any blockage or replace damaged exhaust sections to fix this problem. Black Exhaust Smoke Black exhaust smoke is a sign your engine is dumping large quantities of unburnt fuel into the exhaust system. This can be caused by a blocked air filter, which restricts the amount of air in your engine. If the engine has insufficient air, much of the fuel in the fuel-air mixture won't burn. This hot, unburnt fuel is dumped from the cylinders into the catalytic converter. The converter won't be able to convert all the unburnt fuel, and it may even suffer damage in the process. The unconverted fuel still contains dangerous chemicals and will exit the exhaust as a cloud of black smoke with a strong gas smell. Our technicians will replace your air filter, and air will flow into your engine normally again. In addition, we'll check your converter and make any necessary repairs. Reduced Fuel Efficiency Your Nissan is known for its fuel economy. If you're visiting the pump more often than you used to, you could have an exhaust problem. The most likely exhaust issue is a hole in the exhaust. The exhaust system is exposed to water and mud when you drive, and these substances can create rust over time. It's also possible for hard objects like stones to be thrown up from the surface and puncture a hole in the pipe. A leak in the exhaust pipe forces the engine to work harder, and this uses more fuel. Our technicians will examine your exhaust system and repair any damage. Once the exhaust system is airtight again, fuel efficiency will return to normal. ​Exhaust problems will worsen and can ​cause additional damage to your Nissan. Contact us today at Courtesy Nissan in Altoona, PA.