Automotive News & Information - South Mountain Collision & Auto Center

As cars become more technologically advanced, the importance of your vehicle’s battery becomes more important. In the old days, a car battery essentially worked, or it didn’t; if it was good enough to start the car, it was good enough. Modern vehicles are a different story. A faulty battery can cause a variety of issues, including engine codes, sensor failures, irregular transmission behavior, and the list goes on.

Battery failure often causes issues that are commonly misdiagnosed, and in the hands of the wrong auto repair shop, a mechanic may spend hundreds of your hard-earned dollars chasing problems that don’t exist. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, our mechanics are familiar with modern vehicles and the problems that accompany them.

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.

At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, we’re not only here to fix your truck when something goes wrong...we’re here to help you understand your truck a little better, too. Here are some tips concerning your thermostat - how it works, what to watch out for, and what to do about it when one fails.

Diesel engines are known for their reliability - that’s probably at least partially why you bought one. However, like all things, diesels and their components wear out eventually. Fortunately, the technicians at South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD have you covered. Here are some fuel system issues to watch out for.

Tires are what keeps your vehicle rolling, literally. Many people have found that shopping for tires is overwhelming because there are just so many choices. At South Mountain Collision & Auto Center, we want to break it down for you so that it's easier to understand. There are four main categories of tires, and the right ones for you will depend on the kind of driving you do. Let's talk more about that!

Sometimes a tire goes flat over the course of days, weeks, or even months. A leak like this never has an obvious cause - so why is your tire losing air? From South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD, here’s some info on leaky tires.

Flat tires are a huge inconvenience. The only thing worse than having a flat on your way home from work is having to wait on a tow truck to come to get you. South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown, MD wants to give you some tips on how to change your own tire so that you can keep money in your pocket and get your car back on the road.

Wheel bearings are an often overlooked, but incredibly important component on your diesel truck; and when one begins to fail, other problems begin to arise. South Mountain Collision & Auto Center in Middletown has the information you need to recognize a problem before it turns into a bigger one. Here’s what to look out for: