Automotive News & Information - South Mountain Collision & Auto Center

Car enthusiasts would argue that "those were the days". Everything you drove was built like a tank and had the chrome on it so you enjoyed washing it but NO power steering. For most of us, it is hard to remember life without power steering – cranking those great big steering wheels? It was a pretty good workout. Now power steering is standard. The heart of any power steering system is its pump. The pump pressurizes the power steering fluid that provides assistance for steering. Most pumps are driven by a belt that is run by the engine – a few are electrically powered. A high-pressure hose passes fluid from the pump to the steering gear. A low-pressure hose returns the fluid back to the pump. Here at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD we know that you depend on that power steering and check your fluid & hoses religiously!

There are multiple types of tires on the market for almost every car, truck, or SUV. Once you decide it's time to replace your tires, the choice can be overwhelming. The type of tire you want depends on a variety of factors, from climate to how you drive. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, our technicians have been trained to help you make that choice. Here’s a short rundown of common street tires that will suit your needs.

While your transmission can certainly fail silently, there are certain sounds which indicate you have an issue. The sooner you catch a transmission problem the better, so South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD wants you to know what to listen for.

If you’ve ever been behind the wheel of a commercial truck, you already know that driving in reverse isn’t easy. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, most of the damage we see is a result of an accident which occurred in reverse.

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?...

You trust your diesel to get you to point A to point B every time you get into your truck. However in return, if your truck starts to act differently take the time to pause and listen to what your truck is trying to tell you. Issues can be as small as a thermostat going out, which if fixed now could reduce a more expensive repair down the road! The thermostat in your truck is a small, simple, and critical component. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, thermostat replacements are just one of many repairs we tackle.

If you’re reading this, you probably not excited to be here; the time has come for a new transmission. Fortunately, we at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center are here to offer you solutions, and let you know that it’s not all bad. Replacing a tired and worn transmission will truly bring your car back to life, and you’ll probably be glad you did it.

If your car, truck or SUV is experiencing major engine issues, the technicians at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD have you covered. Do you hear the engine knocking when it decides to start? Is there smoke pouring from your truck’s exhaust pipe? Whether you’re burning oil, your engine is on its last leg, or has simply given up altogether, we can help. And if you’re not sure what you need, we can help with that too.