Here at Tyler’s Automotive we care about you and your car, and from time to time like to provide you with information to help you with your travels.  If you are a snow enthusiast and headed up to Mt. Hood or Mt. Bachelor this weekend here are some road trips to keep you informed thanks to ODOT:

Three ways to get information
The Oregon Department of Transportation offers three easy ways to get travel information: from your computer, by phone and on cable television in certain areas. 

Via the Internet
For up-to-date travel conditions via the Internet, visit www.TripCheck.com, ODOT's travel information website. With more than 1.6 million visitors per month, TripCheck.com provides valuable road and weather information to enhance safety around the state. The site features:

• Detailed maps updated in real time display road conditions and trouble spots, including weather, construction, maintenance and traffic incidents. TripCheck also displays high impact incidents on multiple pages to make them easier to spot.
• TripCheck provides approximately 300 camera images from urban areas, mountain passes and other key locations throughout Oregon, as well as southern Washington and northern California. Users can create and bookmark custom camera pages with up to 10 different cameras for quick checks of specific routes.
• A color-coded speed map of the Portland area provides average travel speeds on Portland highways.
• TripCheck also has links to bus, airport, train, bicycle and trucking information; commercial roadside services such as hotels, motels and restaurants; and detailed information on scenic byways, safety rest areas and Sno-Parks.
• A mileage calculator lets users estimate distances and choose the most direct route.
• TripCheck also provides detailed information on the use of traction tire and chains in Oregon.
• Tripcheck is available in a special format for mobile devices such as cell phones, iPhones and other mobile devices. Visit www.TripCheck.com/mobile for a handy menu of TripCheck features.
• TripCheck information is now also available in text format via Twitter. Visit TripCheck.com and click on the Twitter page to learn more. 

By phone
Travelers in Oregon can dial 511 to access the same immediate road and weather information available on TripCheck.

• Users can select updated reports about driving conditions by highway, mountain pass or major city from easy-to-use menus. The 511 system responds to both voice and touch-tone commands.
• Calls to 511 are local calls when dialed from a pay phone or wire line phone. Wireless (cell) phone users are responsible for airtime and roaming charges according to their wireless service contracts, but ODOT does not impose any additional charges.
• Most wireless companies in Oregon provide 511 services. If you cannot use 511, call toll-free (800) 977-ODOT (6368) for road and weather information. Outside Oregon, dial (503) 588-2941. Oregon offers the feature of forwarding users to the Washington state 511 system for road conditions in that state.
• TripCheck is available for mobile phones. Visit www.tripcheck.com/mobile for a handy menu of TripCheck features, all formatted for the smaller screen size of mobile devices. It even provides links to directly dial hotels and restaurants along Oregon highways.
• Remember, in Oregon, drivers are allowed to use hands-free devices, but not texting devices or touch cell phones. ODOT encourages motorists to pull off the road and park in a safe area before using cell phones.

On cable TV
Corvallis and Bend cable subscribers can check road and weather information instantly on television.

• Bend Broadband customers can view road and weather information from selected cameras as well as live video feeds on Channel 48. TripCheck
• Morning commuters in Corvallis get TripCheck information via their local cable systems.

All of our cameras in the Portland area can be viewed in motion at TripCheck.com.   

Reporting a road hazard
To report road hazards (trees down, electric wires across the road, road blocked by mud or rocks, etc.) motorists should call the nearest ODOT dispatch center.

• Portland metro area, Hood River area: (503) 283-5859
• Mid-Willamette Valley, north coast: (503) 362-0457
• Southern Willamette Valley, south coast: (541) 858-3103
• Central and eastern Oregon:  (541) 383-0121

It’s cold outside so make some plans for some fun family entertainment this weekend.  Here are some events that the entire family can enjoy: 

THE THEATER | Oregon Children’s Theatre presents, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  Based on the classic story by C.S. Lewis, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a visually spectacular journey.  Fantasy, adventure and mystery await four siblings when they step through the wardrobe and into the magical land of Narnia – where the icy White Witch rules and her curse ensures that the land is always crusted with snow.  Show takes place from January 19th and runs through February 17^th.  For ticket information visit Oregon Children’s Theatre.

2013 PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW | There’s something for everyone at the 2013 Portland International Auto Show. Bring the family and join us for fun and exciting feature attractions throughout the four-day event. And of course, see and experience all the newest makes and models on display throughout the Oregon Convention Center. Show starts Thursday, January 24^th and runs through the weekend at the Oregon Convention Center.

THE YARD GARDEN AND PATIO SHOW | The 2013 Yard Garden and Patio show, is taking place February 8-10^th at the Oregon Convention Center.  Enjoy performances by Billy Derian start of DIY Network’s Extra Yardage, the spectacular Showcase Gardens, Outdoor Cooking Classes, and fun for all ages.  Come for the fun and be prepared to be inspired.   

2013 PORTLAND SEAFOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL | Ah… take a break and enjoy the delicious bounty of Oregon at the Portland Seafood and Wine Festival, February 1^st and 2^nd at the Oregon Convention Center.  Enjoy over 100,000 feet of exhibit space all dedicated to Oregon Seafood and Wine. This event is taking place snack dab in the middle of Oregon’s premier Dungeness Crab season and promises to be an event you will love and look forward to year after year.  Bring the kids to enjoy the sand castle building, puppet shows and sand play area.  Your Fred Meyer Rewards card gets you 2.00 off admissions.  

Few things can turn a perfectly functional car into a stationary object more quickly and decisively than a broken timing belt. But what is a timing belt anyway, why is it so much more than just another one those “belts and hoses” you’re constantly hearing about, and what can you do to make sure your is always in good working order?

As its name suggest, the timing belt controls the timing of your engine -- the precise speed that the camshaft turns. (The camshaft must rotate at exactly 50 percent of thespeed that the crankshaft is turning at all times.) The belt is smooth on one side and notched on the other, with the notches lining up precisely with sprockets on the camshaft. A part called a tensioner applies the perfect level of tension to the belt at all times. A timing belt may last for years without showing any damage -- but that doesn’t mean trouble isn’t brewing on the inner side of the belt, the part you can’t see easily.

What happens if your timing belt breaks? I you’re lucky, your car will simply stop working, though that may not meet your definition of “lucky” if you’re on a crowded highway at the time. If you’re unlucky, your car is equipped with an “interference engine” that groups the pistons and vales close together. In this case, even a minor slip in belt tension can allow the pistons and valves to bang into each other, resulting in major engine damage.

Check your owner’s manual for guidance on when to replace the timing belt. (If your car has a timing chain instead of a belt, you may never need to replace anything!) Then come to Tyler's Automotive so we can install a new belt. It sure beats having a dead car!  

Now through February 28th, when you have your service completed at Tyler's Automotive you can Save $30 instantly when you have your vehicles belts and hoses replaced. Our shops are conveniently located with service available in Wilsonville, Tigard and Newberg.  DOWNLOAD A COUPON. 

To learn more and to view an informational video about timing belts CLICK HERE.

At Tyler’s Automotive we share your holiday joy and wants you to drive safe this season.  Visit any one of our SW Portland area locations (Tigard, Newberg or Wilsonville) and we’ll make sure your car is road ready before you head out to your destination.

Here are some fun winter events going on this season:

• The Lights of Peacock Lane – Since the 1920’s, this quaint Portland neighborhood has been decorating their houses for Christmas.  Mostly Tudors, the houses are adorned with beautiful sparkling lights, nativity scenes, rotating Christmas trees and stunningly life-like replicas of Santa and Frosty.  This popular Portland tradition attracts crowd and is cause for traffic caution. So if you prefer to miss the traffic, take a ride in one of the horse-drawn carriages by visiting their website at Cowboy Carriage .  For direction to Peacock Lane and a schedule of times they are open visit the website Peacock Lane Lights .
• Sunriver Resort Traditions – Bring the family to Sunriver Resort for the annual holiday celebration. Between Thanksgiving and New Years, the resort is flurry with over 100 festivities, from the Grand Illumination lighting ceremony to an unforgettable New Year’s Eve Bash. The Bear Factory, the Polar Bear Plunge, Gingerbread Cookie Decorating and or a visit from Elf’s before bedtime are great for the little ones, or take in the Art Exhibition or the Warren Miller movie at the Lodge.   Visit the website for more information Sunriver Resort Traditions.

• Oregon ZooLights - Celebrate the holiday season amid the brilliant hues of ZooLights. More than a million LED lights transform the Oregon Zoo into a luminous winter wonderland filled with moving sculptures, forests of lighted trees and animal silhouettes. Cap off your visit by boarding the zoo's light-bedecked steamer train, which provides a unique view of the ZooLights splendor. Family fun event is going on through December 31^st.

• Christmas tree Recycling - Tigard Boy Scout Troop 423 offers Christmas tree pickup and recycling.  What goes up must come down and Christmas trees are no exception.  The Tigard Boy Scout Troop 423 will be recycling Christmas trees beginning December 29^th for suggested donations of $10.  Some neighborhoods are part of a pick-up program. Call 503-9723423 to learn if you’re on the route or to make arrangements for pickup.  All you have to do is drop the undecorated tree curbside, attach payment inside an envelope with Troop 423 clearly marked on the outside and they will pick up the tree. Money earned during this fundraiser will be used to support year-round scouting adventures, including troop activities, camps and awards.