Fall Automotive Challenges

 

Did you know? The Fall months are some of the most challenging for drivers and their cars. Why? After Summer, upkeep of our cars and trucks takes a back seat to going back to school, work, and life in general. It’s easy to take your car’s or truck’s performance for granted, and with the upcoming expenses of Thanksgiving and Christmas, we sometimes tempt fate. Let’s not tempt fate – instead, do these simple check-ups that will save you money and time while avoiding a horrible surprise.

Check your wipers. Wipers are often neglected, but once they’re replaced, we notice the improved vision during both day and night. Fall leaves and sticks always seem to damage our wipers. Wipers are an inexpensive upgrade to both your safety and the safety of others. This simple fix is a DIY project that could save you from an unwanted accident.

Check your battery. Make sure your battery cable ends are tight and free of corrosion. Such a simple issue caught at home or by your shop can save you the BIG headache of an unexpected breakdown. Then again, if a breakdown was expected, wouldn't you do something to make sure it didn’t happen?

Check your tires. Fall brings new roadway challenges of wet leaves on the roads. Make sure the air pressure of your tires is at the manufacturer’s specifications. Look at the wear and tread depth. Most tires today have wear bars. Lastly, check your tires for abnormal wear. Do your tires have the steel belt showing on the edges? If so, please purchase new tires as soon as possible.

Check your heating and defroster. Fall creeps up on us quickly. Make sure you take a moment to check both the heater and defroster for proper operation. Does the temperature change as you adjust the temp control? If so, GREAT! If not, this could be caused by a low coolant level. If your coolant level is low, take your vehicle to your shop and have them check for leaks. Switch your climate control from heater to defrost to make sure your hot air is coming out of the correct locations. Again, if something is not quite right with the operation of your HVAC system, take your car into your shop for a checkup of this system.

Lastly, is it time to change your oil and filter? Our suggestion as to where to take your vehicle for a complete service is to the shop that does your repairs. Why? Think of your shop like you do your doctor. Your car’s doctor is the shop that does your repair work. When you allow them to do your routine service, they become familiar with the sights and sounds of your vehicle. This is important because all cars and trucks don’t have the same noises or may look a little different under the hood. Give your repair shop every opportunity to work in the best interest of you and your car.

With all those listed tips, have a great and blessed time of the year.  Remember Pugh’s Auto Service’s free SHOT inspection if you need any of these systems checked, free of charge. What is a SHOT Vehicle Inspection? Sight, Hearing, Odor and Touch. Now you can tackle Fall with confidence!!!!!!

How to Get your Car ready for Winter

Winter has a nasty habit of wreaking havoc on our daily lives, especially if you are one of many who has to leave your vehicle out in the cold or make a commute to work. From causing dead batteries to body damage, due to the unfortunate slip on some black ice, winter is more foe than friend to the average Joe.

So how do you stay on top of things when winter comes blowing in? You take your car to a trusted Automotive Shop, like Pugh’s Service Automotive, to make sure it is in tip-top shape to handle the coming winter weather.

At Pugh’s Service Automotive, we offer free Sensory, or SHOT Inspections. SHOT stands for Seeing, Hearing, Odor and Touch. This quick, but very thorough, inspection allows us to access your car and its ability to keep you safe, even during a snow storm.

Pugh’s Service Automotive’s SHOT Inspection will start with a Test Drive to make sure that we don’t hear any concerning noises from your vehicle. Low Brake Pads will make a Squealing Sound that will give them away. A Test Drive will also allow us to feel any vibrations, which could indicate Unbalanced Tires. If there are two things you definitely don’t want to have while driving around in the snow or rain, its Low Brakes and/or Bad Tires.

On a Test Drive, our mechanics will also use their sense of Smell. Is there a Sweet Smell in your car while it’s running? Could be that you have an Antifreeze Leak, which is something that could really hurt your vehicle if not caught before it gets too cold. Maybe there is a Burning Smell coming from your Heater Vents. This could be anything from Dust and Debris in the Vents to a problem with your Heater Core.

Once back from the Test Drive, our Mechanics will go over your vehicle completely, checking the Battery and Battery Terminals, checking the Tread Depth of your Tires and the level of the Brake Lining, inspecting the Wiper Blade Condition. They will also Feel the Belts and Hoses for any Cracking, Fraying, Soft Spots or Bulges. The Condition and Level of all of your fluids, such as Antifreeze, Oil, Brake Fluid, Washer Fluid, and Transmission Fluid will be checked as well.

Finally, we will test to see if all of your lights are working properly, to ensure that you can see clearly whether it be a clear day, raining, sleeting, snowing or just foggy.

At Pugh’s Service Automotive, we value your safety and understand that during this time of year, saving money is more important than ever. That is why our SHOT Inspections are free with every Oil Change or Automotive Service, along with any accompanying estimate for repair.

If you are looking to get your car ready for winter (and save a little money), please visit us at 728 Leipsic Road in Dover, Delaware. You can always call to schedule your appointment too, at (302)734-4231.

Pugh’s Service Automotive

728 Leipsic Rd, Dover, DE 19901

www.pughsservice.com/auto

(302)734-4231

Get your Car ready for Holiday Road Trips with Pugh's Service Automotive's SHOT Inspection!

Don’t look now, but with holidays fast approaching, that means traveling…. Lots and lots of traveling. Whether it be through the skies, on the road, or both, you will need to make sure that your car is in tip-top shape to make the trip. This way you can make it to Grandma’s house safely and without incident.   

You might be wondering what exactly should be checked on your car before a long trip. The answer is everything. This can be done with a free, complimentary Sensory Inspection at Pugh’s Service Automotive, otherwise known as our SHOT (Sight, Hearing, Odor, and Touch) Inspection. In most cases, this inspection is just what you need to ensure safe travels to family and friends for the holidays.

First, we will use our sense of Sight to take a good look Under the Hood and at the Underbody. We will look for any leaks, which is straightforward, as your car should be dry. If a Fluid Leak is spotted, we will note what color it is along with the area it is found in. This will tell us which part is the culprit for the Leak, and then we will give you a call with an estimate to repair the problem. If you are about to embark on a longer road trip, it is best to let a professional Auto Repair Shop repair the issue before you leave.

Second, we will use our sense of hearing on a Test Drive to listen out any potential negative sounds. Hearing a suspicious sound can often point us in the direction of the true problem so that we can use our senses of Sight and Touch to Inspect even deeper.

 For example, Failing Brake Pads can be heard before serious damage occurs. Wheel Bearings also will present with a Roaring Sound if they are going bad. Squeaking or other Noises Under the Hood could indicate worn parts such as Belts and Pulleys. If this is the case, then none of these things should be neglected before you begin your trip, as they can cause serious damage if you were to continue to stress them.

Next, we use our sense of Smell to detect any unwanted Odors during the Test Drive and throughout the Inspection. A very common smell is one of Burning outside of the Car, which can indicate Worn Down Brake Pads. A Burning Rubber Smell can indicate Bad Hoses or Worn Belts. Other Odors to beware of are a Sweet, Syrupy Smell and Hot Oil Smell. If either are accompanied by Leaks seen under the car then you could be dealing with a Leaking Valve Cover or Radiator.

Pugh’s Service Automotive will use our senses of sight and touch to determine the culprits, so that we can provide you with an Accurate Estimate of Repair. This way, you don’t overspend, and you have safe and reliable transportation for your road trip.

Last, but certainly not least, we will use our sense of touch to feel for Soft and Squishy Hoses, Cracked or Torn Belts, and much more.

In addition to everything mentioned above, we will Check to make sure your Oil, Brake Fluid, Transmission Fluid, Power Steering Fluid, Washer Fluid, and Tire Pressures are all at the proper level. We will also inspect your Lights and anything else that may come to mind, making sure all is working properly for your trip.  

Part of enjoying the holidays is not worrying about whether you make it to your destination, and part of that is finding a reputable Auto Repair Shop like Pugh’s Service Automotive to make sure your car is in the best shape possible. We love our customers and want you to have a great holiday season, so if you want to make sure your car can make the trips during the holidays, give us a call. It’s the cheapest holiday insurance you could ever want.

With all this in mind, we at Pugh’s Service Automotive wish you a blessed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.