Vehicle Maintenance

  • Proper Maintenance for Your Transmission

    transmission

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we see a lot of the same mistakes that cause a transmission to fail. With our help, you can avoid a preventable transmission failure and keep your car reliably on the road.

  • Properly Maintaining Your Battery

    headlights

    Your car’s radio and headlights, plus a slew of other important functions, are powered by an electrical current generated by your vehicle’s engine. A vital part of generating electricity is having a place to store it while it’s not being used. This is where your car battery comes into play. The battery of your vehicle holds electrical energy while the car is off in order to help the engine turn over and create a spark to start internal combustion. Without a working battery, your car will not be able to start. If you allow our team here at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center to perform proper maintenance, an average car battery can start your car reliably for roughly four years.

  • Protect Your Exhaust from Damage

    The exhaust on your truck is an important series of components, that work together to ensure smooth, reliable operation. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we also know that exhaust systems are especially susceptible to damage and rust; pipes, mufflers, and other parts are exposed to hazards on the road, and to the environment. This situation, combined with caustic emissions and extreme heat, creates a perfect opportunity for problems to arise.

  • Protect Your Fleet From Leaks

    puddle spot on concrete from a leak

    Whether it’s due to damage, or simply old age, leaky trucks are a problem. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we can fix that for you.

    Water leaks are common and hazardous. Not only do they cause rust, rot, and mold damage to your trucks, they also put any cargo inside at risk. No customer wants their boxes and products to arrive water damaged - it not only makes your company look bad but can cost you a lot of money. 

  • Protect Your Vehicle From Transmission Shifting Issues

    gear shift on a vehicle

    If your transmission isn’t shifting correctly, you’ll want to be careful about how you choose to proceed. The best thing to do is turn the vehicle off and have a professional take a look at it, but if that isn’t an option, there are some steps you can take to ensure nothing gets damaged. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD we can take a look at your issues and also give you some tips on what to do when that option isn't available yet. 

  • Quality Fleet Work Just as Important as Quality Product

    fleet of cars

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we understand the importance of a job well done. You need it done fast, but you also need it done right - cutting corners in the home stretch is obviously a bad idea.

  • Quality Work for Your Quality Vehicle

    quality car parked

    If you drive a Mercedes, Porsche, Subaru, BMW, Jaguar, or other performance and luxury vehicle, you’re a person who appreciates the value of quality. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center, we share that appreciation - that’s why we specialize in quality cars and take pride in quality work.

  • Quality Work is as Important as a Quality Product

    transmission repair

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we pride ourselves on specialty knowledge and ability. Once you’ve settled on a transmission to invest in, it’s important not to cut corners on the homestretch. We’ve got you covered here and you can expect top quality repairs for your top quality product.

  • Radiator Cooling Fan Won’t Turn Off?

    Automotive radiator

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we know how annoying little quirks and issues can be. A common problem vehicles experience is a cooling fan that doesn’t kick on and off when it’s supposed to. While a fan that won’t kick off is far less troubling than a fan that won’t turn on, it’s still a problem that needs to be fixed for a variety of reasons. Here’s why, and what you should do.

  • Replacement Engine Maintenance to Keep Your Engine Running

    Engine Maintenance

    Once your engine is installed, you’ll want to keep it running right. South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD has you covered. Sometimes, engines just wear out - however, most of the time they meet an early demise as a result of improper maintenance. Keep your engine running like new by maintaining it the way your technician recommends.

  • Replacing Shock Absorbers

    Shock absorbers in vehicle

    Tires may be the only part of a vehicle that physically meets the road, but your shock absorbers are next in line. Working with the suspension springs, they absorb shocks from bumps and cracks in the road, while simultaneously controlling bounce and body roll.

  • Replacing Shock Absorbers

    shocks  image

    Tires may be the only part of a vehicle that physically meets the road, but your shock absorbers are next in line. Working with the suspension springs, they absorb shocks from bumps and cracks in the road, while simultaneously controlling bounce and body roll.

  • Routine Maintenance for Your Diesel

    oil being poured into a funnel

    Oil changes are integral to the performance, longevity, and reliability of your diesel truck. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, our expert mechanics understand the importance of good quality oil, changed at correct intervals, in allowing you to get the most out of your Cummins, Powerstroke, or Duramax diesel.

  • Signs, You May Need New Brakes

    Brakes on a wheel

    A car that brakes well and brakes correctly are just as important as acceleration, handling, or any other aspect of a vehicle’s drivability. A car with brake issues has the potential to be a far more enjoyable ride when fixed.  Your brakes have a lot to do with how your car drives. Brakes are a frequently neglected item on a lot of people’s checklists, and many drivers on the road have subpar brakes and don’t even know it. 

  • Spark Plug Maintenance is Essential

    spark plugs

    “Spark plug” is a word you are likely familiar with; it’s one of those car terms that you’ve heard your whole life. You know they’re important, you know sometimes they need to be changed. But how do you know when it’s time to replace them? What do they do, and where do they go wrong? South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown has the answers.

  • Take Care of Your Tires So They'll Take Care of You

    mechanic working on car tire

    There are a few things that matter when mounting new tires on your truck or commercial 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. We've been trained to do it right the first time and make sure you're satisfied.

  • Taking Care of Your 4WD

    Jeep in the woods

    Four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles are becoming very popular. While they have some practical advantages they do require different maintenance techniques. Your vehicle has to be ready to take on the challenges of your driving style or terrain in the area and in order to keep those service bills down and avoid any costly repairs it's important to be pro-active. Here is everything you need to know about your four-wheel-drive truck as well as some of the things our technicians at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD check every time you visit our shop to ensure we take care of any issue you might have.

  • Taking Proper Care of Your Transmission

    Transmission inside of vehicle

    While transmissions are extremely complicated and it takes a professional hand to work on one, taking care of the one you have isn’t difficult. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we understand the importance of caring for your transmission properly, so that it stays in good condition for as long as possible.

  • The ABS Light - why is it on, and what should you do?

    abs light on dash lit up

    Have you ever noticed your dashboard ABS icon lit up? If you have it means there is an issue that needs to be diagnosed, ABS issues don’t need to be ignored long. The anti-lock braking system, or ABS, is an important feature on every modern car, truck, or SUV. It has been legally mandated since 2013 in the US but was standard on almost every vehicle even prior to that. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your ABS system doesn’t fail, from South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD.

  • The Best Maintenance Tips for Your Vehicle

    woman smiling on edge of car window

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, 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 a 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 are your two concerns, and both will keep your car on the road far longer, if observed properly.

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