Give Your Car Bling This Spring with Pep Boys

The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE:PBY), the nation's leading automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, offers motorists tips to spring into the new season with a radiantly detailed, and well-maintained, vehicle.

PHILADELPHIA (BusinessWire EON) March 12, 2007 -- The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack (NYSE:PBY), the nation’s leading automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, offers motorists tips to spring into the new season with a radiantly detailed, and well-maintained, vehicle.

Spring is an ideal time to check your car's maintenance needs, as well as refresh and protect the condition of your car's exterior

From winter’s grimy grip to spring and summer’s warmer weather, Pep Boys has what you need to prepare your car for outdoor fun on the open road.

As spring approaches, it is important to inspect the condition of your vehicle’s wiper blades, lights and tires. Pep Boys recommends Rain-X Latitude wiper blades, as they contour to your vehicle’s windshield, providing even wiping pressure along the entire blade. Sylvania Silverstar Ultra headlamps offer up to 20% brighter light than standard halogen, so you gain better night vision as well as improved side road viewing. Pep Boys also offers the lowest price guaranteed on tires, as well as free tire pressure checks and free rotation with a tire purchase.

When it comes to getting your car ready for spring, Pep Boys’ Platinum tune-up packages will help you maximize your vehicle’s performance. Clean gas, air, and spark plugs create the power necessary to move your vehicle. Clogged fuel injectors, dirty air and fuel filters, worn tires and corroded spark plugs can all decrease engine performance and contribute to decreased gas mileage and performance.

“Spring is an ideal time to check your car’s maintenance needs, as well as refresh and protect the condition of your car’s exterior,” said Pep Boys Vice President of Retail Merchandising Galen Bullock. “The winter weather can be very harsh on a car’s condition, so we recommend that motorists visit Pep Boys for a preventive maintenance check and to select from a wide variety of parts, accessories and appearance chemicals that are designed to keep a car running – and looking – smooth.”

Months of exposure to the winter elements and road salt have probably stolen the luster from your car’s finish. And, looking ahead to summer’s heat, bugs, tree sap and pollutants, there’s no better time than now to prepare your car’s finish for the days ahead.

Key to cleaning up and giving your vehicle the Pep Boys star treatment is choosing the right car care wash and wax products, and knowing how to use them. The process begins with a thorough cleaning using a quality car wash, which no longer means you have to spend hours using a bucket and sponge. The Mr. Clean Auto Dry Carwash system is a hand-held tool that attaches right to your garden hose. It is safe for all car finishes, does not strip wax and protects your car’s clearcoat by cleaning dirt and water spots and leaving a shine on the surface. You’ll get spot-free clean and shine in about 30 minutes – no hand drying required.

Waxing your car is perhaps the most important step in improving its appearance and protecting the paint. Pep Boys stocks a wide variety of options and top-of-the-line brands, including Meguiar’s. Meguiar’s Web site (www.meguiars.com) makes it easy for you to decide on the best wax purchases for your vehicle. In the “How to Center” section, you’ll find “Rx Plus,” Meguiar’s self-help feature that personalizes an exterior and interior detailing plan for your car based on the information you provide.

Brake dust and grime can be easily removed from the tires and wheels with any of the wide variety of wheel and tire cleaners available at Pep Boys. When it comes to offering an assortment of easy-to-use, quality cleaning products, leading brand Mother’s has what you need. For great looking wheels, take this three-step approach with Mother’s products from Pep Boys: start with Mother’s wheel cleaner to lift stubborn road and tire residue. Then, use Mother’s Powerball foam polishing tool to buff hard-to-reach places. Finally, Mother’s Tire Shine spray will help you get a glossy finish.

And don’t forget about the interior. Vacuum first and then use a quality carpet and upholstery cleaner to make your interior look better and last longer. Pep Boys offers deep cleaning Blue Coral Dri-Clean products to remove stains and eliminate odor.

A good interior protectant is especially useful for the many vinyl portions of the car’s interior. Not only do they provide protection from dirt, grime and the sun’s harmful UV rays, but they also offer an attractive shine. To maintain the look of your leather, Pep Boys has a variety of brands of specially-formulated wipes, cleaners and conditioners.

Floor mats are also very important to interior maintenance. They protect your vehicle’s carpet from spills, stains, dirt and wear. And, if your floor mats are showing signs of age, check out the great selection at your local Pep Boys.

Finally, finish your interior with some glass cleaner on the windows and add a sweet-smelling air freshener to create a full-sensory spring cleaning.

You can find all of the top-name car care products you need – including Armorall, Meguiar’s, Eagle One, Mother’s and Turtle Wax – to breathe new life into your car, and maintain those good looks year-round at your local Pep Boys.

About Pep Boys

Pep Boys has 593 stores and over 6,000 service bays in 36 states and Puerto Rico. Along with its vehicle repair and maintenance capabilities, the Company also serves the commercial auto parts delivery market and is one of the leading sellers of replacement tires in the United States. Customers can find the nearest location by calling 1-800-PEP-BOYS or by visiting pepboys.com.

Editor’s note: Pep Boys experts are available for interviews and demonstrations. Pep Boys offers all of the products and services listed in the tips. Call for detailed pricing or product information.