Rockland & Rockport Auto Repair

Fall weather in many areas can bring a large fluctuation in temperatures between daytime and nighttime. These changes in temperature can cause your tires to lose pressure as the air inside them expands and contracts. This triggers the “Check Tire Pressure” light on your dashboard. This light is known as the TPMS, or Tire-Pressure Monitoring System. For many of us, this light can be an alarming surprise. However, there is no need to panic. The light does not necessarily mean your tires are leaking. Tire Pressure Facts   During the fall season, when daytime temperatures are much higher than at night, keeping your tire pressure consistent can be a challenge. As temperature levels change, so does the air pressure in your tires. It’s the same as when you drive at higher speeds for an extended period: the tire warms, and the air within expands and increases pressure.    In the morning, the air temperature is just rising from overnight lows, and your tires are ... read more

In the hopes of finding the perfect used vehicle, you have researched, pulled history reports, and compared a dozen different vehicle makes and models. You have put a lot of time and effort into finding the right vehicle. Don’t let your excitement cost you down the road. A used car can save you money, but only if you buy the right one.   Test Drive Checklist The right used vehicle will be one which appeals to you, has a clean history report, and doesn’t need expensive repairs. It can be difficult to tell if a vehicle is in good shape. The best thing to do, is test drive your potential new car and watch for the following signs.   Slow acceleration is one of the first things you might notice while test driving. This can be caused by several things. The most common cause is a clogged or faulty fuel injector. Contaminates can enter fuel injectors over time and cause blockages. This will translate into slow acceleration due to lack of fuel. If you notice slow accelerat ... read more

Summer is here! With this season, comes fun in the sun, family vacations, and cookouts every weekend. Unfortunately, summer heat can also bring tire problems like blowouts. Tire blowouts are not only dangerous for you, but also for the vehicles around you. Luckily, there are several precautions you can take as a vehicle owner to help prevent your family from being stranded on the side of the highway with a tire blowout.Summer Tire Blowout   Maintain your tires’ air pressure. Your risk of a blowout is substantially higher if you’re cruising around with over or underinflated tires. This is an easy issue to prevent and just requires a little TLC. You’ll want to figure out what your tires’ optimal air pressure is, and get a tire gauge so you can check it regularly (every week or so, ideally). When you notice your tire pressure is getting a bit lower or higher than recommended, adjust as necessary. Voila!    Rotate your tires. Uneven tire wear is a com ... read more

“School days, school days. Dear old golden rule days.” Parents, teachers, and students… we know you’re excited for the start of a brand new school year! Along with buying school supplies and new clothes, car maintenance should be high on your ”back to school” to-do list. Whether you are a student driver, a teacher, or a parent dropping your kids off at school every day, a reliable car is important. We’ve gathered a few important items to jot down on your back to school checklist.    Check your vehicle’s engine oil. We’ll start off with an extremely basic item to mark off your list. Keeping your oil at the correct level is vital to your engine performance, and you’ll want to have it changed regularly. There is conflicting advice on how often you should change your engine oil. We suggest always referring to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific recommendations. The intervals at which you change it wil ... read more

Have you noticed your vehicle shaking lately? Believe it or not this is a common problem. Most cars shake for a variety of reasons including engine, steering, or brake issues. Your vehicle can also shake and vibrate because of wheel damage, uneven tread wear, tire balance issues, or neglected tire maintenances. We like to start with the simple fixes first. These tire and wheel issues are fast, easy, and affordable to fix! Reasons Your Car Shakes   If your vehicle is vibrating and shaking while you cruise down the road, you might be thinking of a dozen reasons why it is happening. What about wheel damage?   You may not even remember hitting a curb or speeding through a pothole but a variety of unnoticed scenarios can damage your wheels. Wheel damage is a leading cause of cabin vibration in your vehicle. Never ignore a bent wheel. It can cause poor handling leading to traffic accidents and premature wear on your tires.   Improper wheel alignment can cause your vehicle to v ... read more