At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we aim to keep your four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive car, truck, or SUV ready for anything. 4X4 systems are pretty low maintenance, but equally as important to maintain as your engine or transmission. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center our technicians have the tools and knowledge to help keep yours going strong.

If you own a rear-wheel-drive car, truck, or SUV then your vehicle is equipped with a differential. Like any other component on your car, maintaining your differential is an important aspect of keeping your vehicle reliably on the road. From South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, here’s what you need to know.

Your emissions system is more important than you might realize. Even if emissions testing isn’t required in your area, there are multiple reasons to keep your emissions system in good working order. Here’s why, from South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD.

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we’ve seen a lot of worn out and tired transmissions. How do you know if it’s time to replace yours?

Whether we’re talking about your engine, transmission, differential, suspension, or otherwise, correct specifications are necessary to keep your car, truck, or SUV reliable, drivable, and running smoothly. From our team here at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, here’s what you need to know.

The hydraulic system in your transmission is responsible for telling the mechanical components what to do, and when to do it. In order to better understand how your transmission works, it’s important to understand the mechanical components of it.

You don’t have to buy a new, fuel-efficient car to get great fuel efficiency. No one wants to trade a fuel bill for a car payment, so take a look at our top 5 ways to save on fuel and you may just be able to pocket a little extra money at the end of the month.

Sometimes it is EASY to see if your car or truck needs to come into our shop for professional repairs! 
1.  You see steam rising from the engine!
2.  The Check Engine Light is on!
3.  The engine starts, but there is an odor that is not right.
4.  You hear grinding or thumping noises.

Your vehicle's cooling system is one of the most important systems in your vehicle. Inside your engine, spark plugs ignite the fuel within the cylinders to produce small explosions that propel your vehicle down the road. With small explosions comes scorching temperatures that can destroy your engine if not controlled. There are two types of cooling systems - liquid-cooled and air-cooled. 

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we specialize in detailed knowledge of complicated, performance systems. One such system, which is becoming ever more precise and complex, is the suspension on your car. Luxury and performance vehicles are innovators and leaders in the suspension field; and as such, it takes leading technicians to service them.

Once you’ve got your new tires installed on your diesel truck, you’ll want to keep them in good shape. Tires aren’t difficult to maintain, and maintaining them correctly will dramatically increase their longevity. Inspection and maintenance are the two key components to making sure they last.

Regardless of the weather, it's important to maintain your coolant system. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we offer the full range of coolant system services, from coolant testing to system flushing. Here’s what you need to know about servicing your cooling system.

Nothing works if your transmission doesn't work!  Simply put you are going nowhere without it and it is the one thing that both car and truck drivers alike never think twice about until it really acts up or they have no power or simply don't move forward.  Most of us have a newer car or truck with an automatic transmission in it vs. a standard transmission so do not notice that it is slipping gears until the problem is really serious so the question is how do you get the most out of your transmission?  The obvious answer is to take care of your transmission with scheduled service per your owner's manual recommendation but we have put together a simple checklist for our Middletown drivers to help them become "transmission aware" as it were.

Once your new tires are mounted and balanced, you’ll want to keep them in good shape. To get the most out of your tires, inspect them regularly and keep up with maintenance - the difference between a tire that lasts 100k miles, and one that lasts 10k, mostly comes down to how well it’s been taken care of.

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we know the key to making your vehicle last; good maintenance. An overwhelming percentage of the problems we see, especially the really catastrophic ones, are a result of poor maintenance. While properly maintaining a vehicle can seem like a bit of a hassle, it is absolutely worth the payoff. Good maintenance is the only difference between a car that lasts 80,000 miles and a car that lasts 400,000 miles. Preventative maintenance and repair when a problem occurs are your two concerns, and both will keep your car on the road far longer if observed properly.

There’s a good chance you don’t know much about pistons or engine building, which is why you rely on the technicians at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD when your vehicle has a problem. However, there’s some practical information regarding modern engine design that helps you better care for your vehicle, and keep it going strong. Here are some important aspects of modern piston design, and what it means for you.

You’ve determined it’s time to get rid of the engine you have, along with all of its issues. You’re probably considering getting something new altogether, and you’re tired of this one giving you issues. South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD is here to help you make the call.

If your car, truck, or SUV has really been put through the wringer, it might be time for a new one. However, before you decide to throw in the towel there are a few things you should consider.

So, you’ve determined your transmission is bad. What next? South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD is here to help.

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? Here are some factors to think about.

You have determined your Cummins, Duramax, or Powerstroke engine needs to be replaced. You might be on the fence about whether you should replace the engine in your diesel, or just get a new truck. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we’re here to help.

On a truck that travels hundreds of thousands of miles and is equipped with anywhere from four to eighteen tires, tire replacement is a concept you’re undoubtedly familiar with. For all your tire maintenance and replacement needs, South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown is the place to be.