Vehicle Maintenance

  • What is a Carrier Bearing?

    driveshaft carrier bearing

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, our goal is to keep your car, truck, or SUV shifting and riding as smoothly as it did the day it rolled off the lot. A big part of that is the mounting hardware that keeps the moving parts in your drivetrain running smooth.

  • What Is A Short Throw Shifter

    mechanic

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, routine maintenance and repair isn’t the only thing we do. For custom parts installation, you can also count on us. Common modification enthusiasts do is swapping to a short-throw shifter; but what actually is a short-throw shifter, and what does it do?

  • What Is a Transmission “Flush”?

    transmission fluid being poured into vehicle

    You’ve probably heard the term “transmission flush” before at some point in your automotive experience. But what exactly does it mean to have your transmission flushed, and why does it matter? South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD has the answers.

  • What is an ASE Certified Technician and Why Does it Matter?

    mechanic standing in garage and holding wrench

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, quality and precision are our top priority. We specialize in well-engineered performance and luxury vehicles like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Land Rover, and Subaru - cars and SUVs that require the right touch. For this reason, we employ ASE certified technicians, to guarantee we’re the best in the business.

  • What It Means When We Say Ground Connection!

    testing battery

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we know that few problems are simultaneously as simple and confusing as a bad ground connection on your car, truck, or SUV. Here’s a look at some symptoms of a bad ground, and what you can do to correct it.

  • What Makes Up a Transmission - Hydraulic Components

    transmission

    Hydraulic power has a lot to do with how your transmission operates. There are some basic hydraulic components that keep your transmission running smoothly.

  • What Parts Operate A Turbocharger?

    turbocharger under hood of car

    Turbochargers are intricate and precise components, but not all that complicated or difficult to understand. By knowing the parts of your car’s turbocharger and its functions, you’ll have a much better idea of how one works. South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD has exactly what you’re looking for.

  • What should you do if you blow a tire?

    man frustrated leaning on car

    The best way to deal with a blown tire is to prevent it from happening in the first place. However, eventually, a flat tire is going to occur, and it’ll most likely be when you least need it. From South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, here’s what you need to do.

  • What To Do When Your Exhaust System is Exhausted

    exhaust coming from a muffler of a truck on the road

    Whether you drive a Duramax, Cummins, or Powerstroke diesel pickup, you have an exhaust system that is prone to failure. When you have a leak that needs attention, South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD can help.

  • What to Know About Your Vehicle's Lights

    Vehicles driving on a highway with headlights on

    All the lights on your vehicle have an important job to do. Brake lights, tail lights, blinkers, reverse lights, and headlights are a crucial part of driving. Lights make you visible, make things visible to you, and allow you to communicate with other drivers. All of a vehicle’s lights make driving easier and safer, and all of them are important...not to mention legally required.

  • What’s The Noise? Diagnosing Manual Transmission Issues

    mechanic working on car in garage

    Sometimes it can be hard to tell if a transmission is working the way it should or not. Is it supposed to make that noise? Is that problem a symptom of the transmission or something else? Fortunately, South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD has the answers.

  • When and Why Your Vehicle Needs a Tune-up

    man holding spark plug in hands

    Tune-ups are an important and frequently neglected aspect of automotive care. Most drivers don’t really consider the mechanical condition of their car, so long as nothing is wrong with it. However, if a vehicle is tuned-up and maintained correctly, many mechanical failures (and expenses) will be avoided altogether. So whne is the right time to get a tune-up?

  • When Do I Need A Heavy Duty Torque Converter?

    torque converter

    If you drive a lightweight car, truck, or SUV, the torque converter you have installed is probably just fine. For those of you with more heavy-duty applications, like high horsepower setups or towing rigs, the stock converter may not be enough. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we can help you determine if your torque converter is right for the job you need to be done. 

  • When Is It Time To Replace a Tire?

    Tires lined up on racks

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we change many tires that should’ve been replaced long ago. Your tires can go for miles and miles, but there always comes a time to replace them. So how can you tell when the right time is?

  • When to Replace Your Differentials

    differerential

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we know that maintenance and repair can go a long way toward keeping your trucks on the road. We also know that sometimes, things have to be replaced altogether. The rear end, or differential, isn’t a component that needs to be replaced often; but when it does, a new one will make your truck feel like new.

  • When To Rotate Your Tires

    man working on tire

    Tire rotations are a part of vehicle maintenance. The purpose of rotating your tires is to make them last as long as possible, prevent your suspension from wearing out prematurely, and keep the drivability of your car in the best possible condition. So when should you get a tire rotation?

  • When To Run Diagnostics On Your Vehicle

    Modern vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, and as a result, computer diagnostic systems are becoming a necessity rather than a convenience. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, our state of the art technology and trained technicians are ready to diagnose any transmission issue you may be experiencing with your car, truck, or SUV.

  • When Was The Last Time You Got Your Oil Changed?

    oil being poured into car

    At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we do our best to keep you on the road. A huge part of being able to do that is proper vehicle maintenance; when was the last time you changed your oil?

  • When Was The Last Time You Had Your Coolant Flushed On Your Fleet?

    Routine maintenance keeps your fleet trucks safe on the road and protects you against unplanned trips to your local automotive shop! One thing a lot of people forget about is to have their coolant flushed. South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD will help you make sure your fleet vehicle is properly flushed every time!

  • Where's that loud noise coming from?

    heavily worn ball joint

    Whether you drive a Porsche, Audi, BMW, Subaru, Land Rover, or other performance and luxury vehicles, your ball joints are an essential part of your car or SUVs performance and safety. From us at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center, here’s what to watch out for, to make sure your ball joints are in shape and ready to go. 

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