5 Causes of Air Flow Problems in your Car's Venting System

You jump in your car on a 100-degree day. You quickly reach for your A/C controls, and to your dismay no air comes through the vents once you turn them on!

The scenario above can be applied during the wintertime as well, when it comes to heating, but either way, there is nothing worse than the HVAC vents of your car not operating properly. So naturally, your first question is what could be causing this issue?

With that in mind, here are a few ways to determine what is causing your vehicle’s vents to not produce any air.

Does the Blower Fan Engage?

In the event that your Fan does not engage, then the fuse location portion of your owner’s manual will help you find the fuse for HVAC/Climate Control or Fan. Most Fuses today are clear, which can make determining a Blown HVAC Fuse easy due to its visibility.

The Fan Controller/Switch/Motor

In addition to a Blown Fuse, a Faulty Fan Controller, Fan Switch, or Fan Motor could cause the sudden lack of air coming through your vehicle’s vents. This could be a good possible cause if your fan is not operating, but the fuses are in good condition.

If this is the case, it is best to bring your vehicle to a Service Center such as Pugh’s Service for a proper diagnosis. The above parts can be costly and it’s best to have the proper tests performed so that the correct parts can be replaced.

A Clogged Cabin Air Filter

If your fan is working but limited air is coming out of your vents, then you may be looking at a Clogged Cabin Air Filter.

Most cars today have a Cabin Air Filter, which can be found by visiting your vehicle’s Owner’s Manual. Due to the old adage, ‘out of sight, out of mind’, these filters oftentimes experience a lot of neglect.

At Pugh’s Service we provide you with a copy of your vehicle’s maintenance, or K plan/schedule. These plans have intervals of when to replace or clean many items on your vehicle, including a Cabin Air Filter. Neglecting your Cabin Air Filter is a common cause when issues arise within your vehicle’s Vent System.

Check for Critters & Debris

Critters love to make their homes in our cars and trucks. Rodents, in particular, are huge fans of our vehicles, setting up shop in many different areas, vents included.

In the case where you have provided a home to a less than desirable occupant, don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified Automotive Repair Center like Pugh’s Service Automotive to completely clean your vents and ducts. Rodents love to eat portions of your vehicle while also leaving their nests and droppings behind. Cleaning up after them is never a simple job, due to the simple fact that you are dealing with a “rat’s nest” of a mess.

Ductwork Mechanisms

Air flow is directed through directional mechanisms which place the air flow in different sections of the vehicle’s interior. These parts are plastic and break for various reasons. Sometimes the reason can be critter nests, but more often than not, old parts that simply go bad are the culprit.

Hopefully this aids you in your quest for ample Air Flow, be it hot or cold. Pugh’s Service has Repaired Venting Systems for many years. Please give us a call at 302-734-4231 or visit us on the web. www.pughsservice.com or our Facebook page Pugh’s Service – Automotive. Have a blessed day!

Get True "Service" with your next Service

When people take their car in for a Service, many shops for speed and convenience, will only change the Oil and Oil Filter. This may be better for your daily planning, but is really what is best for your vehicle? Is it enough?

The answer is an unequivocal NO.

In truth, just changing the Oil and Oil Filter is better than doing nothing, but it isn’t even close to what your car needs. So, what does your car need when you bring it in for a Service?

The answer is simple. Your car needs to be fully checked over. At Pugh’s Service Automotive, we don’t just change your oil and filter. During a Service, we will look at all the other fluids, including Transmission Fluid, Anti-Freeze, Washer Fluid, Power Steering Fluid, and Brake Fluid. If any of those need topping off, we will re-fill them to the proper levels.

In addition to checking your vehicle’s fluids, we also check the condition of your vehicle’s Belts and Hoses, the Tire Inflation and Wear, as well as the condition of your Windshield Wiper Blades. We also perform a courtesy 30-Point Inspection that is completely free of charge.

If issues are found while we are performing our inspection, we provide an estimate for the needed repairs and schedule an appointment. If your schedule makes waiting difficult, we offer Shuttling Services to your work or home, and we also will happily return your car too you upon its completion.

This has been our level of service since 1945, when Horace Pugh, Sr. first opened Pugh’s Service Automotive as a gas station. This level of service was often expected back then, and while it is rarely seen today, we still hold ourselves to that high standard.

Imagine having this kind of an Inspection every time you bring your car in for any sort of maintenance! A good shop, a shop that cares about you more than their pocketbook is HUGE! At Pugh’s Service Automotive we perform a 30-Point Vehicle Inspection on every car every time it comes in for any kind of Maintenance Service, and it’s done for free.

So, what’s in a 30-Point Inspection?

A 30-Point Inspection is all the items listed above, including the inspection of your Steering, Suspension, Drive, Exhaust, Computer, Lighting, and Braking Systems.

In addition to the 30-Point Inspection, Pugh’s Service Automotive will provide a print-out of your vehicle’s Maintenance Schedule, called a K Plan. The “K” in K Plan stands for 1000, because your plan is broken into 1k mile intervals and each vehicle has a specific Maintenance Plan.

This plan can be found in your owner’s manual and is very important. Doing the maintenance prescribed by your manufacturer when directed is a must and will save you money.

Years ago, Fram Oil Filter Company had a commercial that featured a shop owner performing a vehicle service. His message was to those who didn’t properly maintain their vehicles. He said, “You can pay me now or pay me later.” Paying later always costs much more in both money and time, and it is never convenient.

Here’s our advice. Find a shop like Pugh’s Service Automotive to completely inspect your vehicle. A shop should be able to prioritize the needed work with estimates, by always looking at safety first, then the manufacturer’s plan.

Today’s vehicles are not as simple as they once were and finding a business that watches after you more than their pocketbook will give you the confidence to make the best decisions for you and your vehicle. Hopefully this will help you save money in the future by enabling you to find an Automotive Shop that cares about YOU!

Please feel free to call us at (302)734-4231 or visit us at 728 Leipsic Road in Dover.

How to Find Your College Freshman a Trustworthy Automotive Repair Shop

It’s almost that time of year again! Time for parents to see their kids off to college!

If you are one of these parents, a parent who is sending away a newly minted Freshman to an out of state school, you are likely going out of your mind trying to prepare.

One way to prepare you and your child is to scout the area for Trustworthy, Reputable, and Skillful Automotive Mechanics. Should something happen to your kid while they’re gone, you want to make sure they aren’t taken advantage of.

As we all know, vehicle repairs can be very expensive; add to that the cost of tuition, and your anxiety level goes through the roof.

While we can’t help with paying your college tuition expenses, we can provide some helpful tips to finding trustworthy Automotive Repair Shops… And hopefully reduce your stress!

If there is one thing we can all agree on, going to an Automotive Dealer is always more expensive than going to a local shop. Since every dollar counts, choosing the right shop is paramount to saving your money.

First and foremost, you should start looking for an automotive repair shop early. The earlier you start researching Automotive Shops near your child’s college, the more prepared you can be when you leave your kid for the next few months.

Below is a list of what to look for from the car repair center that will be watching over your child’s safety and your wallet over the next four years and perhaps beyond.

     1)      Local Reputation: I don’t mean look on social media for Google/Yelp Ratings, though those can help, but TALK to real folks that live and work in the area. If you’re out eating, shopping or whatever you are doing, ask questions.

     2)      Take Notes:  Take down the addresses and phone numbers of Automotive Shops that are local to the area of your child’s college. This way, you can visit some when you are in town visiting their college, too.  

  

     3)      Schedule a Service: Once you narrow down your list, make an appointment to get a feel for the staff. While you’re there, take notice of certain things. For instance, what do they offer on a Service? Do they have a Waiting Area? Do they Offer Shuttle Services? Will they pick you up when your vehicle is complete? These are all services that we at Pugh’s Service Automotive have offered for years, at NO CHARGE!

     4)      Going Above and Beyond: When changing your oil and filter will they do additional checks? Here at Pugh’s Service we perform a Free 30-Point Inspection on every car, regardless of the reason of the visit.

  

     5)      Get to Know the Owner: Ask many questions, like “Do you have kids in college?” “Will you call me with an estimate whenever work needs to be done?” “Can you prioritize the repairs, I’m on a budget, my kid’s in college?” Having an owner that understands your position of value and safety for your child is HUGE!

     6)      Are They ASE Certified?: This is a tough one. I know some amazing technicians that are not ASE and some techs can pass a test but in practice couldn’t repair the little red wagon, which goes back to #1 on the list. Local Reputation.

Here at Pugh’s Service we are surrounded by colleges and have a ton of experience with earning the trusts of parents and students alike.

Did you know that many students stay in the area of the college they attended, even after graduation? It is important that you find a Car Repair Center that views your young adult as a person, and not a number, and treats them as such.

I would like to thank such a young collegian for the inspiration to write this blog. Nakia Bracey, thank you and congratulations on graduating from Wilmington College. Lastly, a shout out to all of our amazing past and present students from Delaware State University, Wesley College, DelTech and Wilmington College.

You all are valued within our community and are special to us at Pugh’s Service.