Automotive News & Information - South Mountain Collision & Auto Center

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.

The heads on your commercial or fleet diesel are one of the most integral parts of your engine. The heads are comprised of the valvetrain, exhaust ports, intake ports, and injector ports. In essence, a head’s purpose is to regulate and time the intake of fresh air, the release of exhaust, the compression of fuel and air that provides combustion, and the entry point for fuel into the cylinder. The head is where all the complex aspects of engine operation occur...without it, you just have a chunk of metal with pistons in it, and no way to make them move. Here’s what you need to know about your heads, from South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD.

Nothing is more important to the aesthetic of your Chevrolet, Ford, or Dodge diesel truck than the wheels you choose to install. The right set of wheels is necessary to achieve the look, feel, and stance you’re looking for. They can take a good-looking truck and turn it into a real head-turner. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, diesel pickups are what we do. Our technicians can help you source wheels, order them, and ensure they have the perfect fit, achieving that perfect look you’re going for.

Though transmissions are generally reliable, there are a great number of issues that can develop with one. From South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, here’s a general overview of the types of problems your transmission may develop, all of which we service and repair.

Can you say for certain all the tires in your fleet, or on your commercial truck, are roadworthy and ready? Proper attention to tire condition is so important, but how do you properly care for your tires? From South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, here’s what you need to know.

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center, there’s a reason we’re the top rated truck repair center in Middletown, MD; we do it all. While many shops shy away from the more complicated aspects of truck repair, we have the tools and people to get the job done.

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we understand that safety and driving comfort are largely dependent on truck maintenance. Driving in the rain can be a hassle, especially if your vehicle isn’t prepared.

While your exhaust system helps reduce noise output from your vehicle, it also significantly reduces harmful emissions from being released into the air. When your muffler and exhaust system are functioning properly, it significantly reduces your vehicle's harmful impact on the environment. It also significantly improves the functionality of your vehicle and improve fuel mileage for your car, truck, SUV or Jeep.

An exhaust system is made up of numerous parts that work together to rid your car of the exhaust gases that are created during the combustion cycle, as your engine burns fuel. Each part of your exhaust system has an important role to play in removing exhaust gases away from the engine as quickly as possible, allowing another cycle of combustion to begin. The more quickly and efficiently an exhaust system does this the more efficiently an engine can run. The main parts of an exhaust system are an exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, exhaust pipes, and the muffler.