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Routine maintenance and being proactive about your vehicle is important at any point in the year, but we always like to focus on keeping your car healthy at the beginning of the summer. With the brutal heat, and likely road trip or two planned, your car works hard throughout the most-relaxed season. Of course, our team of certified prof essionals is always willing to inspect your vehicle, and Multi-Point Inspections (offered with every service) cover many of the suggestions below. But, just to be aware of common summer problems, here are a few things to think about as the temperatures rise: Certified Technician Dennis Miller repairs the air conditioning in a 2013 Dodge Durango. How to Prepare for the Weather In the South, it’s hard to imagine surviving without air conditioning in your home and in your vehicle. However, it’s also difficult to think about your air conditioning until you need it, and chances are, it went through a period of time with little use in your vehicle. Make sure that when you turn your air conditioning on, it blows cold air without any unusual smells or noises. Under the hood, inspect your air conditioning for any damaged belts or fins. Speaking of cooling, it’s also important to to keep your engine cool to prevent the vehicle from overheating. Check that there are no leaks in your radiator, and that you have proper levels of (clear, not cloudy) coolant. While we’re all hoping for a sunny summer, now is also the time for thunderstorms. You may have used your wiper fluid to de-ice your windshield in the winter, so check to see if you still have enough. If your wiper blades are streaking the windshield or peeling in any way, it’s time to replace them. Certified Technician Juan Castillo works to rebuild the engine in a 2012 Scion iQ. How to Prepare for a Road Trip To ensure safety, we recommend a full inspection before embarking on a long or challenging road trip. While it’s always a good idea to have a professional check the battery, engine and any lights that have come to life on the dashboard, there are a few things you can do yourself before entering our Service Lane. Inspect your tires for tread and cuts, and check that the air pressure is in accordance with the numbers listed on the driver’s side door. Be sure to do the same for the spare tire, and check that the jack is still in working order. Pay attention if your brakes are starting to take longer to work, or if you notice noises or pulsations of any kind. A minor brake problem can soon be detrimental, so keep up to date with the state of your brake pads and fluid. If your vacation includes towing of any kind, double check the hitch. Ensure that the safety chains are in order, and that the brakes and lights are working on any trailer you may use. Abide by your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight (GVW), and take special care when packing for proper load distribution.

“I want to make sure we’ve done the right thing by the customer.” That quote pretty much sums up Bridget Jones’ time with Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Originally hired as a Cashier in the Service Department, Jones moved to the Concierge team until last month, when she was announced as Milton Ruben’s first Service Advocate, a position created with the sole purpose of enhancing the customer experience. Service Advocate Bridget Jones formerly served in the Service Department as a Cashier, then Concierge. Jones has also taken advantage of the partnership Milton Ruben has with Strayer University. Though Jones has always helped customers, as a Service Advocate, she now works with customers from the beginning to the end of their visit. After looking at customer surveys, Chrysler’s corporate office formed the position, and worked with Jones to define the role. She sees herself as a sort of mediator between the busy Service Advisors and the customers who can’t be in the dealership while their vehicle is being worked on. “We needed the customer to have a voice between them and the Service Advisor, and I’m that voice,” Jones explained. Armed with a phone, walkie-talkie, computer and desk in the exact middle of the Service Department, Jones spends her day interacting with customers and colleagues. After meeting with the managers each morning, Jones walks around and collects updates from the Service Advisors. At her desk, Jones is always on the phone. The questions she answers can range from a quick price quote to an ongoing issue that she then handles in one of two ways. She either puts a customer in contact with their Service Advisor, or speaks with several colleagues to get information that she then digests and explains to the customer. With the little free moments she has, Jones walks the waiting area and makes it a goal to speak with every person. Service Advocate Bridget Jones gets an update on a customer's vehicle from Service Advisor Chris Barnwell in the Service Lane. While Jones’ days are full, she still has plans for her position. Currently, she’s working on the appearance of the department. From cleanliness of the waiting area to ensuring that employees are wearing name tags and planning team-building activities, Jones chalks it all up to professionalism. “When a customer is walking in, you want a professional presentation,” she said. “And it’s easy to make that happen." Though Jones has only been the Service Advocate for a month, the position is quickly becoming essential to the department. For the Service Advisors, she’s a source to stay in contact with the customer, and holds them accountable for what they’ve told customers. Service Advocate Bridget Jones confirms an appointment with a customer. While the department is adjusting to having her as this type of resource, Service Manager Mike McNutt can already tell that Jones is the right person for the job, saying that she’s great with customers and that she “brings an added value to the customer experience." For Jones, her goal is simple: Make people excited to visit. While Milton Ruben is in a convenient location, she doesn’t want that to become a crutch for the department. “I want people to want to bring their vehicle to us and trust that we’re going to do a good job,” Jones said, before returning to her ringing phone.

While we have already received many awards as a dealership, Milton Ruben Toyota is proud to announce that eight of our employees have been honored as Southeast Toyota PROS. PROS, or Professional Retail Outstanding Salespeople, are Toyota employees who have exceeded performance expectations while attaining above average customer satisfaction scores. Salespeople must have completed all Toyota certifications in order to qualify for this prestigious award, while Sales Managers' employees must also be certified. All Sales employees must receive higher than 95.5 percent customer satisfaction, and their dealership must reach its sales objective throughout the year. In addition to being certified, Assistant Service Managers must maintain customer retention, and meet key objectives during the year. Here are our 2015 Toyota PROS: Assistant Service Managers: Dana Kent Freddie Parker Salespeople: Kelton Hayes William Jenkins Russ Marshall Al Pleming Sales Managers: Jeff Hennen Paul Nopper Back Row L - R: Paul Nopper, Russ Marshall, Al Pleming, Dana Kent, Freddie Parker Front Row L - R: William Jenkins, Jeff Hennen, Kelton Hayes We’re ecstatic to have eight PROS in our store. Having this many award winners under our roof is an incredible honor, and we can’t wait to continue learning from them and feeding off of their passion for Toyota vehicles and customer comfort. Please visit our Meet Our Staff page to find contact information for our award winners, and, while you’re there, schedule an appointment with one of our PROS!

Pull tab, pop top, even pop cap or can tab. What do you call those small metal devices on top of aluminum cans that allow access to a refreshing beverage with a crisp click? At Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we’ll now call them life-changing. Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is happy to announce their partnership with Shriners International and their Shriners Hospitals for Children. The Service Department has added a container to their cashier’s center to collect your pull tabs so that these hospitals can afford supplies. We have no problem fixing your ailing vehicles, but we’ll let the doctors at Shriners Hospitals decide how to best use these funds. We’ll simply collect your pull tabs, send them to a recycling center and then use the money earned to donate to these fantastic establishments. From medical equipment to books, these supplies will help the hospitals’ patients in all stages of their care, and every cent that is raised goes straight to the hospitals. The Augusta Shrine Club is helping us with our fundraising by providing materials, donations and publicity. Service Director Dan Fort has a personal connection to Shriners and initiated the pull tab collection. When he reached out to the Augusta Shrine Club, he wasn’t surprised that the president, Frank Valentine, was so eager to help raise funds for the hospital in Greenville. Augusta Shrine Club President Frank Valentine shakes the hand of Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Service Director Dan Fort while launching the pull tab collection campaign in the Service Drive. “I learned at a young age, with my father being a Shriner, that they were a large charitable group that has been giving back to children for decades.” Fort said. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, four Shriners stopped by to officially launch the campaign and pose for pictures in their signature fez-and-tuxedo uniforms. To see more photos, visit our Facebook page. The Shriners Hospitals for Children operates 22 children’s hospitals across North America: 18 general hospitals, three burn hospitals and one hospital that specializes in orthopedic, spinal cord and burn injuries. Our efforts are especially important, because treatment at Shriners hospitals is free to patients, their family or any third party. So, help us collect enough pull tabs to make a difference in a child’s life. Approximately 1,430 pull tabs equal one pound of recyclable aluminum, which means that we need every pull tab you can spare (and what else are you doing with them, making jewelry?). Set aside a place to collect them in your kitchen, car or office. And don’t feel guilty for that 4 p.m. caffeine boost -- you’re just trying to help save a life. Click here for more information on Shriner’s Hospitals.

You don't have to compromise - you can go to a certified dealer and get quality automotive service on your beloved vehicle.  At Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we have Elkin Vanegas.  Let us allow him to tell you about us. Bienvenidos a Milton Ruben Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, y Ram. Yo soy Elkin Vanegas y soy ajustadore de servico. Hoy les quiero hablar de unos servicos y la opportunida de tracr su carro a un dealer certificado con su carro. Su cambio de leite son cada 5 mil millas. Sus rotacion de ilantas son cada 10 mil millas. Con la compra de un carro nuevo nostros le damos four combio de leite gratiz nosotros houra de operacion son lunes a viernes 7:30am - 6pm y Saturday 8am - 5pm. Cuando venga para servico you les puedo contestar todos su preguntas de su carro. Al fino yo soy Elkin Vanegas y yo si hablo espanol y les puedo ajudar tengan un buen dia ye los espero aqui. Conectate con nosotros en Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google!

Buying vehicles is such an exciting experience, people oftentimes are overwhelmed with information once the salesperson starts teaching about the features on your new car. This is why we have started our New Owner’s Clinic, for recent buyers who have questions about their warranty, parts & accessories, routine maintenance, technology, or anything else. And as a thank you for your purchase and attendance, dinner is on us! Here’s a synopsis of our first New Owner’s Clinic at Milton Ruben Toyota in April of 2015! Did you miss it? Get in touch with your salesperson to find out about our next New Owners Clinic! Must be recent buyer of a vehicle from Milton Ruben Toyota to attend. See some cool Parts & Accessories go to work on a Toyota Tacoma in our #TacomaTough customization series! Video, photos, and post by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

We're hiring! Join the Milton Ruben Family!   AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE ADVISOR/SERVICE WRITER Milton Ruben Chevrolet in Augusta, GA has an immediate employment opportunity for an AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE ADVISOR/SERVICE WRITER with at least two years of experience. Qualified candidates must have a proven track record of excellent customer service, strive to exceed expectations and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Duties (not limited to): - Greeting customers promptly and listening to their service requests - Clearly communicating repair orders and answering questions - Estimating costs and time needed for repairs - Respecting customers' time and schedule - Handling complaints and achieving positive outcomes - Periodically updating the customer about the progress of their repairs - Getting approval before additional repairs Requirements: -  Must have experience in automotive service -  GM/Chevrolet experience a plus -  Must have strong CSI focus -  Must have strong sales skills -  Professional appearance and communication style -  Integrity, a positive attitude, and strong work ethic -  Must be willing to learn current software systems and/or technologies in order to meet theexpectations of today's customersIf selected, Milton Ruben Chevrolet offers: -  Competitive compensation -  Comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision, life, disability) -  401(k) with company match -  Professional and respectful work environment -  A commitment to giving you the most current technology, processes and systems you willneed to be successful in your automotive career!How to apply: Head to www.DriveBaby.com and fill out the online application and assessment for immediate consideration. Application is located at the "Careers" link on the "About Us" tab. You may also forward your resume to Human Resources at kbentley@drivebaby.com. Must be 21+ to apply with a valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record.

For whatever reason, we like to pressure ourselves every year in the hunt for the perfect Valentine's Gift for your special someone, and we frequently will break the bank doing it.  This year, skip the cookie calories, the chocolate sugar rush, the blinding bling, and the flower allergic reactions and get your special someone (or thing) something truly special - a car part or accessory!  We have a few ideas for every budget to get those creative motors rolling and help cupid string a heart arrow on his bow to let love fly with these fun suggestions from our Parts Department! For The "Truck Guy or Gal:" $$$ - Big trucks are a signature of the South! Help your honey get up there with a lift kit! $$ - Who doesn't love to get a little mud on the tires? The problem comes when the mud gets INSIDE the truck! For those love and muddin' moments, we suggest Weather Tech mats! Laser defined and built to precision for your exact model, Weather Tech mats protect the upholstery of your vehicle from becoming the collateral damage. $ - Express yourself and protect your hitch with a custom hitch cover flaunting your team, military branch, or alma mater! For the Jeep Head: $$$ - All Jeeple take pride in the tracks they leave - and Jeep's latest project is to let you leave those tracks right on the hood of your Jeep! Pre-order a custom trail map hood for your honey's Jeep to express the love of where they've been, and where you're going together. (Cue "Awe"s - and yes, you can use that on the card when you deliver your awesome gift!) $$ - The beautiful part of being a Jeep owner is that you get to personalize your vehicle. A custom wheel cover on your baby's Wrangler can add just a little extra touch to the personal Jeep! For the Muscle Maniac: $$$ - Performance Packages or Brembo brakes - if you've got the cash and you want to spend it on your sweetheart, you will send their heart a revving with one of these powerful modifications! (But check to make sure they don't already have one!) $$ - Take a page from my book - I gifted my then boyfriend, now fiance with custom color protective mats for his muscle car that match the obnoxious orange he holds so dear! Now his muscle car is show-ready! $ - Can't afford a whole shifter? How about a custom shift knob? From the freaky to the humorous to the classic, shift knobs vary in cost from $12 - hundreds, and make the perfect "I care" gesture. For The SuperMom: $$$ - Oh honey. In this case, it's time to invest in some serious "thank you" bling - she deserves it! $$ - We're going back to Weather Tech mats again! They come right out and can be hosed down! Seriously - hosed down! Easiest clean up post soccer game/ celebratory drive through ice cream in the car ever! $ - We have two options for this category - a cargo net, for all of the piles of the kid's stuff that flies everywhere in the trunk, and rain guards (aka: window visors) to protect upholstery from the rain when the kids forget to roll up that cracked window in the summer. There you have it! Gift ideas for every car person in your life to fit every budget! Just call or visit our parts department to learn how to access these gifts for your sweetheart! To stay in touch with other fun tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google! This post was written by Milton Ruben Superstore Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

Recalls are confusing stuff.  What do you have to do? What does it mean? What part could do what to where? That letter that arrives from the manufacturer is long, wordy, and who has time to google every other word to figure out what its trying to say? Like we said, figuring out what to do with a recall can seem like complicated stuff.  We understand how frustrating the process can be when you aren't sure what to expect or you're worried your vehicle might not be safe if you don't helo-vac your it to our Service Lane for repairs ASAP.  And we want to settle your mind.  So we started a Recall Video Series, so you'll know what to do with your recall, what to expect when you bring your recall to the service lane, and whether or not you should be worried. CHRYSLER, INC. RECALL P14: BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to call your Service Advisor!   And stay tuned for more updates on our Recall Video Series on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google!

We've been conducting a few polls here and there to find out what you want to see from us in your newsfeed.  The most popular answers were "Information on vehicles," "Advice on how to better care for my car," and " Coupons and Specials." Well we've been hard at work for the last few weeks stocking up on walk-around videos to answer your questions about the new cars we keep in stock, helping you make a decision about what car is best for you.  We also continued our Service Video series conducted by our Service Managers and Service Advisors to help you take better care of your vehicle, helping it hold value longer, and keeping you safer.  Now to tackle the last request! Here's a couple specials we have running in our Service Lanes and Parts Departments right now: And in the future, you can stay up-to-date on other ways we're trying to save you money by checking the " Specials " tab at www.drivebaby.com! Also, we'll start posting more of these specials on our social media networks to keep you in-the-know on when the best time is to buy or have service done on your vehicle. Keep giving us more suggestions! We are striving to have the best customer service in the CSRA!  You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google, Instagram, and LinkedIn! This post was written by Milton Ruben Media Specialist Heather Cortright.

Has anybody else been battling with this consistent love-hate / why-am-I-wasting-my-time-on-this-trash guilty-pleasure of quizzes on buzzfeed?  Between finding out which Disney Prince you're destined to marry and what kind of Vampire would drink your blood rather than your celebrity doppelgänger who makes fun of your street to first pet ratio-ed Rapper Name, there are the classics.  Like the personality test.  And go figure - according to the author, who I'm sure is a clinical psychologist with all sorts of legitimate certifications, degrees, doctorates, and a highly impressive Rapper Name street cred, I'm Type A Personality - the organized planner.  Who shows up on time, is reliable, a leader, generally accomplished, focused, ambitious, and has a pretty elaborate idea of what the perfect car is. It might be true.  We may all be doomed to hours and hours of weathering the elements in search of the perfect vehicle - yes to those tires, no to that body style, etc. We had customer that needed his FJ Cruiser decked out and ready for some off-road action. When we were done with it, it looked so nice, we decided to modify one of our own.  (Photo on left provided by Milton Ruben Photographer Kris Olsen.)   Or we might just shop at Milton Ruben.  And we just might take those tires and put them on this body style. Ah, the miracles that can occur at the hands of a certified technician! Meet Certified Toyota Technician Jimmy Berry, who took on the task of lifting and "shoeing" an FJ Cruiser for our lot.   With great pride in the capabilities of our highly trained team, we present a visual representation of a 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser, transforming to an off-roading beast of a butterfly. STEP ONE After removing the manufacturer tires that came on the FJ Cruiser from Toyota, Jimmy disassembles steering components to gain access to the shocks.  Jimmy must remove the shocks, install a lift kit, and replace the shocks. Service Director Kevin Woodard dropped in to check on Jimmy's progress. He inspected the installation of the spacers on the lift to ensure that the complicated inner-workings of the FJ's suspension were secure. Lifting a vehicle is a multi-phased process, beginning with removing the tires and rims, and then taking off the shocks (it looks like a spring), and placing a spacer between the shocks and the suspension to literally "lift" the body of the vehicle up from the tires. Here, Jerry disassembles the steering component to gain access to remove the shock. STEP TWO Put on the tires. Each of these tires, built on a 18" aluminum rim, weighs roughly 45 pounds. "I'm not going to the gym tonight," Jimmy said while heaving the tire up onto the wheel. Jerry places lugnuts that will secure the wheel onto the wheel hub.  If lugnuts are not properly tightened, the wheel could shake as they rotate, damaging the interior of the wheel well. Using an impact wrench to tighten lugnuts onto wheel hub, Jimmy is careful to tighten to torque specifications. STEP THREE Re-calibrate microchips in each of the tires, as well as on the motherboard in the dashboard of the vehicle so they communicate properly.  If this step gets skipped, the computer on the car will always read that the vehicle has improperly inflated tires. Jimmy uses an Electronic Calibration Tool, to re-calibrate the TPMS - Tire Pressure Monitoring System.  The ECT basically activates the sensors in the tire, which will then send a signal to the ECT with the necessary numbers for the tires.  Jimmy will take that information and transfer it to the TPMS on the vehicle. Jimmy ensures that the TPMS has properly re-calibrated the motherboard in the dash of the vehicle. This way, the tire pressure monitoring system will only flash a notification on the dash when the tires are no longer properly inflated. A dangerous mistake some people may make is to forget the spare.  Jimmy was sure to include the spare in his initial calibration, as well as his double check of each tire's pressure. STEP FOUR Step back and enjoy the view. To keep meeting your mechanic, taking a peek behind the wrench, and stay in the loop on new cars to customize into your very own, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google, and Pinterest! Photos by Heather Cortright, Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist.

When I was in college, I drove that stereotypical " first car."  It was a hand-me-down from my sister, who had gotten it after my dad upgraded to a new model.  The headliner was torn so badly it was wrapped in a re-fashioned fabric book sock so the foam wouldn't rain down into the eyes of the driver at random.  The A/C only worked between 35 and 60 mph, and even then it was 78 degrees or bust.  The radio dial took up residence in a cup holder since no variety of glue could hold it in place anymore.  It took fourteen years of faithful service to my family before it finally died on me in my junior year of college. In the middle of the night.  While I was driving it.  Through the backwoods of West Columbia, SC.  Twenty years old, female, unaccompanied and clueless about cars at the time, I found myself being told by a private shop technician that it would cost nearly a grand to fix my car.  I learned 48 hours later in the parking lot of Walmart trying to coax "Big Red" to start that I had been swindled quite badly.  It was that moment that it dawned on me - I needed to learn more about cars.  Particularly their regular maintenance and mechanics.  After all, $1000 was a lot of Easy Mac. Here at Milton Ruben, our service departments do their best to keep our customers updated and informed, answering any questions you may have about repairs to avoid the above situation from happening.  But it has occurred to us that some questions could be easily answered at any hour of the day with a nice, informative video.  And you guys have always been the best source for what we should focus on - so we turn to you to learn what you want to know about basic maintenance and mechanics of your car. Who knows - if it's a good suggestion on how we can teach you to keep up the upkeep of your vehicle, we might even throw out a gift or two. So, tell us, what question do you have about vehicle maintenance that we could focus on in our upcoming videos? Feel free to comment, private message, or e-mail socialmedia@miltonruben.com with your feedback! Check up on if we've answered your question by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google, and Pinterest! This post and graphics were created by Milton Ruben Social Media Specialist Heather Cortright.