Winterize Your Wheels with Duke Discounts

Marcus Johnson received a practical Christmas gift about two years ago from his godparents – membership with AAA. He has used the membership for towing a friend’s car to saving $15 on an oil change for his 2011 Dodge Charger.“I have no worries if something happens to my vehicle because I know I can always talk to AAA,” said Johnson, who’s in charge of offensive quality control for Duke Football. During the upcoming winter months, cold, ice and snow is hard on cars, so AAA Carolinas in Durham recommends getting a tune-up before winter weather hits. Duke faculty and staff receive $10 off new AAA memberships through the Duke employee discount program, PERQS. Cold weather can also make existing car issues worse, according to the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, which recommends correcting engine performance and driving problems and replacing old wiper blades and worn tires before bad weather hits. These Duke automotive discounts offer more ways to save on car upkeep before winter:  Parts and accessoriesIf you need new wiper blades or an ice scraper, Duke employees receive 10 percent off all parts and merchandise purchased through Advance Auto Parts at 3016 Wake Forest Road in Raleigh. (Antifreeze, oil and Freon are excluded from the deal.) Schedule an auto checkup

The employee discount program includes about 10 service centers and garages that offer deals. Tamara Powers, an invention manager assistant with the Duke Office of Licensing and Ventures, has taken the family cars to Jorge’s Garage in Durham for the past five years, starting when the engine gave out in her 1999 Volkswagen EuroVan. During that service trip, she saved about $150 using the Duke employee discount; Jorge’s offers 10 percent off select services. “They tell you honestly what’s wrong, they fix it appropriately, and you know you’re not getting overcharged,” Powers said.

Protect your car from corrosionSalt and brine spread on roads to combat ice can cake onto cars and corrode the exterior. The N.C. Department of Transportation uses between 50,000 and 60,000 tons of salt statewide during a typical winter, according to the department. After the snow melts, give your car a cleaning at Bull City Car Wash near East Campus. The business at 1810 W. Markham Ave. offers Duke employees 10 percent off the express, deluxe or ultimate car wash if they show their DukeCard ID. Also, Touch of Class Hand Wash in Durham offers Duke employees 10 percent off its special service car wash, which includes a full wash, quick wax and protectant on the dashboard.