At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we know that diesel engines play a huge role in many of our customers' daily ways of life. If you drive a Duramax, Powerstroke, or Cummins diesel pickup, you obviously appreciate the power of the diesel engine. Diesel engines are prevalent all over the road, but where did it all start, and why are diesel engines most commonly found in trucks today? 

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center, an integral part of our business is providing only the best customer service to our clients. Whether it’s through great communication skills or quality auto repairs, our customers can trust that whenever they come into our shop, they’re being treated with care along with their truck.

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we understand how important it is to have ice cold AC in your truck on a long, hot day. Whether you drive a Chevy, Ford, or Dodge diesel pickup, chances are you have a lot of cab to cool down, and a subpar AC just won’t cut it.

Your vehicle's engine needs clean air to burn the fuel – and it needs a lot of clean air. In fact, a typical vehicle needs about 216,000 gallons of air for every tank of gas. All that air passes through a filter that catches the dust and dirt. Eventually, the filter gets completely full, and because the filter can only hold so much, dirt starts getting through. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we ensure you get the best air quality in your vehicle and explain the process of where this dirty air is going to our area drivers. 

Your car’s fuel system works with the rest of the engine control system to deliver the best performance with the lowest emissions. Check your car’s fuel system regularly or immediately if you smell gas or suspect a problem.

What does it do? - The fuel system transfers fuel from the fuel tank and passes it through a fuel filter for straining before it arrives at the injectors. A pressure regulator controls fuel pressure to ensure good engine performance under a variety of speed and load conditions. Fuel injectors, when activated, spray a metered amount of fuel into the engine. Some vehicles use a return line system to return unused fuel back to the tank.

If you drive a standard shift vehicle, you probably know your clutch is an important part of your driving experience. Proper maintenance and use of the clutch will dramatically increase its lifespan, saving you a lot of money in the future. South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown explains:

Do you need new brake pads? Most of the time, if you think you do, the answer is yes. While a lot of auto parts stores sell brake pads with lifetime warranties, don’t be misled...brake pads will still wear down.

If you own or operate a fleet of vehicles or a commercial truck, chances are you’ve encountered a bad ball joint or two. How do you catch one before it breaks, and why is it important? South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD has the answers.

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, precision and quality are our top priorities. That’s why we always employ ASE certified technicians - but what does that mean for you?

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we understand that the care for your vehicle is in the details. Transmission work, more so than any other type of maintenance or repair, requires a keen eye and specific know-how.

Whether you drive a Chevy, Ram, or Ford diesel pickup, we have you covered. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we can do it all - and a big part of that is done by employing ASE certified technicians.

Without a working battery, your car will not be able to start. If you perform proper maintenance, however, an average car battery can start your car reliably for roughly four years. Your vehicle's radio and headlights, plus a slew of other important functions, are powered by an electrical current generated by your vehicle’s engine but a vital part of generating electricity is having a place to store it while it’s not being used, which is where a car battery comes into play. The battery holds electrical energy while a car is off in order to help the engine turn over and create a spark to start internal combustion.  What you don't want is to have a bad battery!!

Failed engine mounts are an irritating issue to live with causing your car or truck to vibrate and you don't know why. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we can help, no matter what type of car, truck, or SUV you drive and it is an easy issue to detect on a test drive.

There are a few indicators your engine mounts need to be replaced. For one, you can do a visual inspection, if they’re accessible enough - if they looked cracked, smashed, or dry-rotted, it’s probably time for new ones.  If the engine visibly shakes while it’s running, engine mounts are also likely the culprit.  However, if you are like most drivers you simply get in and drive on down the road until something is different or a light comes on!   Then you call our shop for help!

So, you’ve determined your transmission is bad. What next? Choosing what to do can be overwhelming, and you need someone you can trust to help you decide what work needs to be done. South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD is here to help you make the right decision when it comes to your transmission. There are a few things to consider when your transmission goes out. You might feel inclined to just get a new car, but should you? 

There are a few things that matter when mounting new tires on your vehicle. First, you want it done right. Second, you want it done fast. For both, South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD has you covered.

A good technician will give your vehicle a quick inspection whenever you have maintenance performed. Fluid levels, tire condition, dashboard lights, and a variety of other items typically are briefly explored whenever you bring your vehicle in for maintenance. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we're good at noticing things that need repair, but the fact of the matter is that only you know your vehicle. You know when your vehicle feels off when its been serviced last (or that it hasn't been serviced at all,) and have at least some vague idea of what’s going on with your vehicle day to day. Here are some questions you can ask us next time you come by the shop:

There is a reason we check your brake fluid when you come in for a service check.  Maintenance pays big dividends and we want to avoid high repair costs for our Middletown drivers.  Did you know that brake service isn't just all about the brake pads, drums & rotors?  That we have found low brake fluid to be the cause of a large percentage of brake issues here at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center?  Seriously, brake fluid is an important part of your braking system and with your service intervals being less frequent on the newer vehicles 5,000-10,000 more miles this has become an issue!  Why?...

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we know that in order to keep your car in good shape, it helps to know how it works. Here’s a quick rundown of a system that’s very important, but you take for granted until there’s a problem; your brakes.

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, our expert mechanics are here to work for you. On large commercial trucks, there’s one component that works harder than almost all the rest; your brakes. Our technicians have the knowledge and ability necessary to have your truck stopping like the day it rolled off the lot, no matter what the problem is.

Obviously, your brakes are pretty important. Your brake system is made of many components that all have to work correctly for your brakes to operate seamlessly. If one thing needs to be repaired, the whole system is compromised. Brake pads, rotors, hoses, calipers, and metal lines all play a part in stopping your car. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we’re here to make sure your car, truck, or SUV stops as it should.