Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

In 1936 Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Olympics, you could buy a new Oldsmobile for $665 and Erv Lehmer's used car dealership in Concord, California got their franchise from General Motors to sell Oldsmobiles. Much has changed in the world since 1936, but the Lehmer family continues to sell GM vehicles in Concord.

Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

Erv's daughter Carolyn has been around the dealership since she was born. She worked there during the summers when she was still in high school and after college she started full-time. Carolyn says, "I worked in the office, because girls worked in the office in those days. But I became a dealer in 1987." Today she runs the show at Lehmer's Concord Buick-GMC along with her husband Russ Anderson and their son Darren.

Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

Russ took a winding path into the car business. When he was 18 years old he joined the navy and became an engine man on submarines. He remembers, "I liked GM just because our submarine diesels were 1,600-horsepower GM diesels that were first built for World War II." After leaving the sea he came back to California and joined the fire department.

Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

He also met his future wife Carolyn at Mel’s Diner (made famous in the movie "American Graffiti".) He would drive used cars from his father-in-law's dealership to his firefighter job and he would often sell the car he was driving to an interested customer. Finally the chief told him to choose between firefighting and the car business, and Russ ended up as a salesman at Lehmer's.

Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

After seven years at Lehmer's Russ became general manager of another GM dealership in nearby Walnut Creek, spending 21 years there before eventually returning to Lehmer's as general manager.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Checking Your Engine Oil

Posted by Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC on 11:17 AM


One of the most important things you can do to keep your car running like new is to regularly check the oil, but do you know how?

Check engine oil regularly, especially if you notice that the oil level drops between the oil changes. Engine oil cools down and lubricates the engine. Driving with very low oil level can cause engine problems.

Park your vehicle on a level ground. Set the parking brake. Make sure the transmission is in "Park". Stop the engine. Wait for a minute or two to let engine oil drain into the oil pan. Pull the engine oil dipstick. If you don't know where it’s located, check your owner's manual, usually it has a bright handle saying "Engine Oil".

Wipe the dipstick off. Insert it back fully. Pull it out again and check the oil level.

The oil level should be between the "Low" and "Full" marks. In this photo the level is OK and oil looks clean.

Check the oil condition: If it's way too black, as in the left photo, it's definitely time to change it. If it's brown, but still clean and transparent, as in the right photo, it's OK. If engine oil is of the "coffee with milk" color it means that engine coolant mixes with oil. This is a sign of some internal engine problem, such as, for example, a leakinghead gasket - have your car checked out.
If oil looks clean, but the level is low, you can just top it up.

To top off engine oil use a recommended type of oil; for example, if your owner's manual or the oil filler cap indicates SAE 5W-20, use SAE 5W-20 oil. If your engine needs synthetic oil, use only synthetic oil. You can find the recommended oil type for your car in your owner's manual.

How to top off engine oil:
Add a little amount of oil into the oil filler neck. Wait for a minute to let oil to flow into the oil pan. Check the oil level again with the dipstick. If it's still low, add some more. But don't overfill it. Don't forget to install the dipstick back and close the oil filler cap when you finished.

To view a full slide of detailed step by step photos visit: http://www.samarins.com/maintenance/simple.html

Friday, September 21, 2012

GMC Acadia: Bringing Back Luxury - Stealing Buyers

Posted by Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC on 10:39 AM

If you're looking for luxury in your SUV and want to pay the best price, take it from this Florida buyer... The Acadia is what you're looking for.


"It started when my boss bought an Acadia and I wondered why the owner of a company worth over $100 million didn't drive something more expensive," she said. "But then I looked for myself and as a former BMW driver, I was impressed. The Acadia has great quality, craftsmanship, and all the luxury features I want without being over the top. It's smart luxury."

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 She added that she has convinced three friends to buy GMC models, and that she convinced her company's CFO to purchase a Sierra pickup.

 Apparently, other shoppers share her enthusiasm. GMC sales last month were up 11 percent from August of 2011, the highest they have been since 2008. Year-to-date sales are up 3 percent from where they were in the same period last year.

 Read more: http://www.autoworldnews.com/articles/2323/20120904/gmc-acadia-terrain-sierra-snag-buyers-car.htm

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Looking For Something Different?

Posted by Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC on 11:06 AM


If you're looking for something fresh and a little out of the ordinary stop your search here with the 2013 Enclave.

The Enclave has a new panoramic-style LED lit cabin which emits soft blue ambient lighting at night, however is completely invisible during the day... makes for a sort of pleasant surprise with the upgraded cabin, one that's sure to impress friends.

GM Authority wrote the following on the new Enclave:

Buick designers look to home interior design for inspiration to design in-vehicle ambient lighting. For example, the major light sources (like TVs) in a high-end home at night are complemented by soft, evenly-distributed interior lighting elements. Similarly, the ambient lighting sources found in today’s Buick vehicles create a warm, inviting driving experience by complementing the bright output of gauges and IntelliLink infotainment system displays with soft, Ice Blue lighting radiating from hidden sources.

Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/09/heres-how-buick-lights-its-cabins-using-ambient-lighting/

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

How To Make Your Car Last Longer

Posted by Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC on 10:31 AM


April may be national car care month, but it never hurts to go the extra mile to keep your car running longer.

“Neglected vehicle care almost always means much higher costs down the line in the form of more extensive repairs or lost resale value,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Following a routine maintenance program makes financial sense, extending useful vehicle life and helping avoid costly repairs down the road.”

The Car Care Council recommends 10 basic maintenance procedures to keep your car operating at its best for the long haul:

-Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

-Check the hoses and belts to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.

-Check the battery and replace if necessary. Make sure the connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free.
Check the brake system annually and have the brake linings, rotors and drums inspected at each oil change.

-Inspect the exhaust system for leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and must be corrected without delay.

-Schedule a tune-up to help the engine deliver the best balance of power and fuel economy and produce the lowest level of emissions.

-Check the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system as proper heating and cooling performance is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting.

-Inspect the steering and suspension system annually including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.

-Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.

-Check the wipers and lighting so that you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

Tips from: http://www.carcare.org/2012/04/car-care-the-key-to-a-long-lasting-vehicle/