Automotive Industry News & Information - South Mountain Collision & Auto Center

If you drive a car, truck, or SUV that runs on gasoline, there's a good chance you’ve run it low on fuel a few times (or more than a few times,) and maybe even run out of gas completely a time or two. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, we like to provide information applicable to you. Running a vehicle low on fuel is something we’re all guilty of, and most of us don’t think twice about it. But, can it be bad for your car?

If you drive a dodge, Chevy, or Ford diesel pickup, there will come a day when you start the engine, only to be met with a sound of high pitched squeals. Fortunately South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD has the solution you’re looking for.

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 or operate a fleet or commercial truck, you’re likely no stranger to dashboard warning lights. Increasingly, a common source of headache for many operators is the ABS, or Anti-lock Braking System light. Here’s what you need to know from South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD.

salesman talking to customer about a new vehicle

Whether you drive a Chevrolet, Ford, or Dodge diesel pickup, there will come a day when you have to ask the question - has the time come to get a new truck? Knowing when to throw in the towel or decide to keep the vehicle you have can be a difficult task. South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD is here to help you decide.

Without a working battery, your car will not be able to start. If you perform proper maintenance, however, an average car battery can start your car reliably for roughly four years. Your vehicle's radio and headlights, plus a slew of other important functions, are powered by an electrical current generated by your vehicle’s engine but a vital part of generating electricity is having a place to store it while it’s not being used, which is where a car battery comes into play. The battery holds electrical energy while a car is off in order to help the engine turn over and create a spark to start internal combustion. What you don't want is to have a bad battery!!

Getting your vehicle washed and waxed on a regular basis is one of the easiest ways to preserve its paint and keep it looking nice. It makes you feel good when you’re driving in a clean vehicle. Removing other environmental contaminants such as salt, tree sap, and bugs also goes a long way to make your vehicle’s paint last longer.

Unless you are confident in your abilities as an automotive mechanic, there is really only one rule when purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle: don’t do it. Unfortunately, sometimes sellers aren’t particularly straight-forward with their used cars. Many will try to hide the fact that it’s been damaged by floodwaters at all or try to convince potential buyers that the car is in fact fine. “It has gone months with no issues” or “technically it is flood-damaged but” are two red flags, and while it isn’t impossible for a flood car to be fine, it’s altogether a good idea to stay away.