Texas Goverment Debates Over Texting Ban

Lawmakers met earlier this week to begin work on House Bill 63, filed by state Rep. Tom Craddick, designed to ban texting while driving. The state Legislature will review statistics suggesting that bans in other states have not reduced accidents and are difficult to enforce, and discussing ways to make the proposed law more effective if it passes in Texas.

It's obvious that as society become more immersed in a technological world of devices and constant communication, that it can have an effect on the attention of a driver to focus on the road rather than their blackberry. "When I see someone swerve, I no longer think, 'Hey, look at that drunk guy,'" State Rep. Eddie Lucio III said. "I think, 'He's texting.'"

Last month, Rick Perry's deputy press secretary Josh Havens said the governor “continues to believe that texting while driving is reckless and irresponsible” and that “the key to dissuading drivers from texting while driving is information and education, not government micromanagement.”

25 Texas cities currently have bans over texting and driving while in the city limits. There is also a law in place prohibiting anyone under 18 from using telecommunications device while driving.

Read more about the lawmakers debate on a texting ban.

Deciphering Your Check Engine Light

When the "Check Engine" light comes on in your car, it's usually followed by a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. The light could mean a costly problem, like a bad catalytic converter, or it could be something minor, like a loose gas cap. But the truth of the matter is it means you need to visit a mechanic to determine the cause of the light and prevent future damage.

The Check Engine light — is a signal from the car's engine computer that something isn't right. If there is any change in the car's performance, any mechanical noises, smoke from the tailpipe or electrical smells, stop the car and call for immediate assistance. If there are none of these symptoms, restart the car and if the light maintains on then you'll need to visit a mechanic to diagnose the problem.

Car's made after 1996, have a standardized system under a protocol called OBD-II, which stipulated a standardized list of diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) and mandated that all cars provide a universal connector to access this information. It's usually located under the steering column and is easy to access, if you take your car to any mechanic they will have a code reader that connects to this standardized on board diagnostics (OBD) port and transmits a code to diagnose the problem. For more information about engine light coding there are helpful websites such as Engine Light Help.

CarMD published a list of the five most common Check Engine light codes:

• O2 sensor (part of the emissions system, monitoring and helping adjust the air-fuel mixture)
• Loose gas cap
• Catalytic converter
• Mass air flow sensor (monitoring the amount of air mixed in the fuel injection system)
• Spark plug wires

In summary, just because the check engine light comes on does not mean that you have a costly repair ahead of you, what it does indicate is that there is something that isn't right. The light indicates the need for you to take your car in to a mechanic or service department as soon as possible to find out exactly what is wrong and to prevent further damage. Orr Nissan of Greenville service department's trained mechanics will solve the problem and get you back on the road as soon as possible.

How To: NissanConnect

How to Pair a phone, or other Bluetooth capable device, using NissanConnect with Navigation, available for the 2013 Nissan Altima, 2013 Nissan Sentra, Nissan Titan, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Xterra and NV200.

21st-Century SHIFT_

Over the past decade a SHIFT_ has been made. Nissan has nearly doubled the number of models offered and nearly doubled its sales. In 10 years, the diverse lineup has grown to include Nissan's first full-sized truck, all-new hybrid technology and a 21st-Century supercar. And this is only the beginning of what's to come.

Nissan believes that cars should change the world and the way we move through it. As we embark on a new decade, Nissan's manifesto is to build vehicles that are more efficient, more beautiful, more inspiring and more human than ever before. That is our commitment to you.

Nissan Now

Get to Nissan Now and score big savings on our most innovative lineup, ever. Get great offers on fuel-efficient sedans, versatile crossovers, durable trucks, and capable SUVs. With all-new models, now is the time to get big savings on the Nissan you want. Time is running out. Event ends soon. Hurry in to Orr Nissan of Greenville Now!

The Nissan Green Program

The Nissan Green Program promotes activities not only in development and manufacturing departments associated with the production of automobiles, but also in sales, service, and all other departments company-wide. In specific terms, this program ensures that environmental action plans are formulated, that targets and aims relating to business activities and associated indirectly with the environment are set for mid-term, long-term, and yearly periods, and that every possible effort is made to achieve sustainable improvement.

2013 Nissan Quest

The 2013 Nissan Quest has standard front-wheel drive, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, an electronic stability system with traction control, a blind spot warning system and six airbags, 260-horsepower.

"Without question, the seven-seat Quest is my favorite minivan to drive. Not only does it glide over bumps in the road, but it has more than enough power with its 3.5-liter V-6 engine to pull its weight -- even when packed to the gills with children and child-safety seats." Breann Ahara wrote in a NewsDay review article.

"Nissan deserves major kudos for its intuitive navigation and audio systems. I especially liked the way the large, easy-to-read buttons were laid out." Breann Ahara, NewsDay.

Hot on the Lot: 2013 370Z Coupe

2013 Nissan 370Z Coupe: 2-door 7-speed automatic coupe in brilliant silver metalic. Nissan intelligent key keyless entry and ignition system, aluminum Wheels, Head Airbag, Heated Mirrors. In addition it gets 19 MPG city and 26 MPG highway. This 370Z Coupe is the perfect combination of sporty and class. Come test drive it today!

Red-Light Camera Controversy

Red-light cameras are now common across Texas, with at least 35 cities using them to monitor intersections. Over the past two decades, red-light cameras have become familiar as hundreds of cities and towns across the country have installed these high-tech camera systems to catch people rolling through right turns or driving through intersections on a light that's already turned red.

The initial reason for the cameras was based on statistical data that showed almost half of all car crashes that cause injuries happen at intersections, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In order to decrease the number of crashes in intersections, red-light cameras offer tickets as the punishment handed down fr breaking the law. Drivers who run red lights are responsible for about 2 percent of all fatal accidents a year. In 2009, that number equaled 676 fatalities, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

There's also little disagreement that red-light cameras work. One example of research supporting that assertion is a June 2011 report by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University. It found that cameras at 275 state intersections they studied were effective in reducing crashes.

According to the Texas Tribune, some red-light camera in Dallas earn upwards of $650,000 in annual revenue. Wile these cameras are decreasing the number of crashes, they have become cash-cows for cities.

So we must ask, what's you opinion on the matter? Do you believe that red-light cameras are safety devices that keep our roads safer, or just another revenue for city government?

Oil Change and Inspections Special

Since it is a new year, it means one thing: inspection stickers begin to expire. So we here at Orr Nissan of Greenville are offering you a deal that is too good to be true. Come stop by our service department and for $24.95 we will change your oil and and give you a free inspection. Visit our website for more service deals!

Taking a Note on Safety

As we mentioned before, the all-new Nissan Versa Note will be coming out this summer. Beyond is atheistic appeal and innovative technological advances, it's big on safety. Nissan has always taken protection of passengers as it's main priority in building vehicles, which is why the 2014 Nissan Versa Note features some of Nissan's most state-of-the-art safety systems.  

Traction control system (TCS) top right
The TCS helps you get a grip. When it senses drive-wheel spin, it reduces throttle or applies brake pressure where needed, so your wheels aren't just spinning without actually going anywhere.

Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) top left
Hit a slick spot in a corner and suddenly you may be going in a direction you didn't intend to be going. In these situations, VDC monitors steering and braking. If needed, it responds by reducing engine output and/or applying brake pressure to specific wheels.

Brake Assist and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) bottom right
If you slam on the brakes, Brake Assist senses the emergency and applies maximum brake force, helping you stop sooner. The EBD can detect added weight in the back, and send extra force to the rear brakes when needed. Clairvoyance, or just really smart technology?

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) bottom left
Gone are the days when you need to pump the brakes on a patch of ice. The ABS does it automatically-faster than you possibly could-and prevents wheel lockup so you can continue to steer in panic-braking situations.

Design with a Purpose

It's the most innovative Sentra with fresh, new styling.

The 2013 Nissan Sentra's interior design was built with long journeys in mind, the all-new Sentra boasts a quiet cabin, and plush interior materials — like available leather-appointed seats and soft-touch trim — for maximized comfort. You'll feel like you're being upgraded to first-class every time you step inside.

Technology to go, the Sentra is packed with innovative, driver-focused technologies. And whether they're designed to keep you safe, or make you forget how many more miles until you get there, they're technologies you'll never want to be without again.

Nissan Innovation ignites curiosity and never ceases to excite.

2013 Pathfinder NEXT Tour

The Nissan NEXT Tour will be at the Houston Auto Show on Jan 24 - 27 at the Reliant Center.

Register for a test drive and enter for a chance to win a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder!

The Nissan NEXT Tour is traveling across the country to bring the most innovative Pathfinder ever to a city near you! The Nissan NEXT Launch Team will be celebrating the release of the 2013 Pathfinder at more than 300 Nissan dealerships throughout the U.S. Visit their Facebook page to see when they are visiting your neck of the woods.

The Altima Proposal

As a cure your Monday blues and watch this sweet proposal.

A fan had told Nissan that if he got to test-drive the All-New 2013 Altima before anyone else, he would bring his girlfriend to Nissan's Test Track and propose to her. Nissan not only thought it was a great idea, they thought to help him out.

2014 Nissan Versa Note

Exterior Color: Metallic Peacock

The release of the new all-new Nissan Versa Note is giving us another reason to look forward to summer. Whether you're taking a road trip or you want to take your world for a ride. This vehicle is high style, high-tech, high capacity, and gets high mileage-40 MPG to be exact. It also wears the PUREDRIVE® badge, reflecting our commitment to creating an eco-friendly lineup of lower-emission vehicles. It's the all-new 2014 Nissan Versa Note. And wherever life's taking you, this hatchback is ready to get you there.

Starting at just $13,990 it's avaliable in a beautiful array of colors.

Coming to a Nissan dealership near you Summer 2013

The Perfect Path

With the new year comes new savings and here at Orr Nissan of Greenville we have so many specials we just had to share! From factory rebates to cash back and bonus cash.... this deal is too special to miss out on! Browse our Pathfinder inventory and see if it's time for a new path in your life.

Hot on the Lot: 2012 Titan

While it's still cold outside, we have cars heating up the lot. This month one of the hottest on the Orr Nisan of Greenville lot is a customized 2012 Nissan Titan S with 4 wheel drive and an 8-cylinder engine. With a little over 6,000 miles, this truck still has it's new car smell.

Come see this ultimate truck for yourself, test drive the Titan today! 

Dealing with an Emergency

According to a Edmunds article explains how drivers can survive common driving emergencies.
 
Emergency: Dropping Two Wheels off the Road This should be the easiest to emergency situations to handle, yet it results in a large number of fatalities each year. The answer is as easy as this: If you drop two wheels off the road, don't be in a hurry to get back on the pavement.

• Smoothly remove pressure from the gas pedal. Stay away from the brake pedal unless it can't be avoided (e.g., if you're headed downhill or there's an upcoming obstacle). Here's where ABS would be worth its weight in hundred-dollar bills.
• Drive parallel to the road: Allow the car to coast down to, say, 35 or 40 mph.
• Gently turn the wheel a very small amount: If you have to turn more than 5 degrees, you're going too fast. Let the car slow down more.
• If you face an obstacle, brake harder but don't try to reenter with more than 15 degrees of steering. The reason: If you have to turn the wheel, say, 45 or 60 degrees to get back on the pavement, the front tires will fully regain traction before the rears and either you'll spin out — likely hitting what you were trying to avoid — or shoot across the road into other traffic.

Even the curves you'll find on interstate highways need only the grip from two tires to stay firmly planted on the road.

I hope this was helpful, don't forget to read all 10 tips on handling emergency situations, and drive safe y'all!!

Nissan NV Powers LA Mobile Edit Business

PrePost Data runs their entire mobile unit out of a Nissan NV 2500 High Roof. The company is in the film and video production business. Their expertise is making sure that content gets from cameras into the post production process safely. They focus on building dailies, which is making copies of the film shot on set in the course of one day for the director and producer to watch and analyze. This work requires them to be constantly on the move.

"We looked at a lot of vehicles to find out which one kind of best suited our needs and the reason we chose the Nissan NV was it was economical, and fit into our business model. It was extremely flexible," said Jason Brown, co-founder of PrePost Data.

Brown said the van is attractive, but more importantly, spacious and smooth on the road. The tall roof allows for directors and producers to stay standing while inside the vehicle. The smooth ride allows their equipment to stay secure while driving hundreds of miles cross country. And the sleek appearance allows them to keep a consistent positive image.

What could you use the NV 2500 for?

Nissan vehicles set sales records in 2012

Nissan Leaf

• Nissan Altima, up 12.6 percent with 302,934 sales for the calendar year and the first time the nameplate has exceeded 300,000 sales in a calendar year
• Nissan Rogue crossover, up 14.3 percent with 142,349 units in 2012
• Nissan Versa, up 13.6 percent with 113,327 deliveries. Versa sales also set a new December record with 10,618 units.
• Nissan LEAF, up 1.5 percent to 9,819 with December sales of 1,489 units.
• The Nissan NV commercial van, up 58 percent to 10,179 sales, with 1,250 units sold in December, its best month ever.

“Nissan had a record-breaking 2012, led by strong totals for Altima, Rogue and Versa,” said Al Castignetti, vice president, Nissan Division. “Our aggressive product launch schedule with five new core vehicles in under two years positions us well for a successful 2013.”