Margate City Auto Repair

It's spring and that means the heat is on its way. Happens every year, and you know as much as the other person that you do not want to get stuck with a faulty A/C during the first heat wave when everyone else who is sweating tries to find an appointment to get it fixed. If you have any questions, we here, at Sunny Service Center are always happy to help you. This article will hopefully answer some of your questions, if you have other question feel free to message us. Your air conditioning is part of your HAVC system. Which stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It’s an important part of your car’s functionality. It keeps you comfortable in any season with the right amount humidity and temperature. It also helps with defrosting your car. It should be checked annually. If you are unsure of your maintenance history, we at Sunny Service Center keep track of that for you. Here are some of the most asked questions:  What would h ... read more

Almost every person who owns and drives a vehicle has one thing in common - they all dread the despicable "check engine" light. Everybody is thankful that their vehicle has a computer system with the technology to put out a warning when it senses that a particular part or system of the car is experiencing some sort of issue. If left ignored, that issue could result in causing some serious damage to your vehicle. The reason the check engine light is such a hassle is that it tells us there is an issue with the car, but it does not pinpoint that issue for us. It could turn out to be something minor, like a loose cap on either the gas tank or one of the engine fluid containers, but at the same time, it could be a major issue such as a transmission problem, in which case further driving of the vehicle is highly advised against. The only way to really understand what the check engine light is indicating is by running a computer diagnostics test on the vehicle. Unfortunately, not ... read more

Since most drivers who use the same vehicle daily would be 'in tune' with their car's sounds it goes without saying that if something in the vehicle sounds strange or 'off' the driver would immediately have the car repaired. Many drivers, however, choose to ignore strange sounds 'for now' if finances or time do not permit them to take the vehicle to the mechanic. Thus said, it is important not to ignore strange or unusual sounds in a car as these sounds could be a sign of major damage that would put the driver even more out of pocket or in extreme danger when driving. Here are five noises a vehicle driver should not ignore: A squealing or screeching sound coming from the wheels when you apply brakes. This could mean the friction material is worn out and the metal start rubbing on the rotors, and this is what usually makes the noise. Ignoring this could lead to the loss of braking action entirely, which is extremely dangerous ... read more

Brake pads are crucial to your vehicle's operation. It's a hassle when one set of pads wears down faster than the other. We all know that brake pads can be expensive and often people only replace the worn-down brake pad, but it is advisable to rather replace them all. The first thing that springs to mind when considering this situation is that somehow the car has a broken shock absorber or the vehicle is overloaded on one side, but that is not the case. Apparently, the most common cause of brake pads wearing down unevenly on one side is often when there is a discrepancy in the disc thickness on the brake pad. Even the smallest variation in thickness can cause the wearing on one side faster than on the other. There are several other factors that could result in one side of the brake pads wearing down fast and one of these things is dirt and rust in the rotors. Dirt and debris need to be removed properly as they can affect old or new rotors. An anti-rust coating is usually app ... read more

Hey all, I have been thinking about how long our vehicles have sat this year. Some never started all spring, some are only moving from the driveway to the stores. Some of us will be traveling by car and truck to visit our families for the holidays - this is exactly why our cars need to be maintained. When vehicles sit too long many different issues can occur, from batteries not starting to having animals chewing the electrical wires and nesting as it gets cold. Having your regular maintenance services performed, even if it is not due by mileage, but by time allows you to avoid any issues. Kind of like still seeing the doctor for your check-ups even though you are feeling well, your vehicle needs to be seen and checked for service. This year, we have seen cars sit so long that brakes have seized, we have found nesting rodents, chewed wires, batteries that would not charge and many other issues that have impacted a vehicles performance. During this time our vehicles can feel like th ... read more

The Season of Pot holes is upon us! Winter is hard on everyone and everything, yes that means on your roads and cars as well. That is why April is Car care Aware month. Its time to freshen up for the Spring. The biggest threat to your car right now is pot holes and neglect of maintenance. Pot holes meh, am I right? They come back every spring like flowers. They are caused by water seeping into the cracks of the pavement, then freezing and thawing, and then being driven on causes the pavement to weaken and eventually give.  If you lucky your city is on them like white on rice. Either way they are a danger to your car. Alignments, Tires, Hubs, your exhaust, your under carriage and depending on how deep it is anything within its evil grasp. It can cause leaks, dents and compromise the integrity of parts and sometimes clips can come off and parts can start to drag.   Is there any way to avoid them? Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee, that’s because your car can ... read more

Animals that use your car as a nest, hiding space, or refuge from the weather   As I was driving around today on this cold day I had a bird fly out of my windshield wiper area! I hadn’t gotten far and this poor little bird and I were both startled. It got me thinking on how we can prevent those little un-pleasantries for both of our sakes and our cars.   Animals are not thinking about you or your car when they go to find a place to get out of the weather or make a home. They don’t have the ability to reason that this is a car, there’s a person who owns this and it’s going to be a bad time. All they are thinking is that this place is warm and dry. So how can we help each other out?   How to dislodge and deter animals from making your car their shelter: As much as I personally hate being startled, this might be the best and safest way to warn the animals that you’re about to get moving. So give your car ... read more

Winter is coming!   Do you know what it takes to make it easier on you or your car during these cold winter months? The cold is hard on cars. Especially their batteries, wiper blades, tires, paint job, heating system and lights. Make sure to check on them often for your (and others) safety.   We have compiled two lists for you to check to help you!   Things you should have in your care in case of emergencies:   Blankets- Cold leads to hypothermia, and if your car gets stuck or breaks down blankets will help keep you warm. Collapsible Snow Shovel- to dig yourself out Non-Perishable Food – because who doesn’t like a snack? We recommend Protein bars. Water- water= life Spare Change and Cash- You never know when the power will go out Flashlight, Jumper Cables, First Aid kit, Road Flares/ Reflective Warning Triangles and Portable Air pump/flasher- because you should always have them Kitty Litter- cheaper than u ... read more

Did you know that we offer a Complimentary Concierge service here at Sunny Sunoco in Margate? Well... we do! No need to rearrange your world and your closest driving friend (or person) to get your car worked on when you use us for your car needs! We will pick your car up anywhere on or around the Island of Atlantic city! That means: Atlantic City, Ventnor City, Margate City, Longport, Somers Point, Linwood, Northfield and parts of EHT. Would you want to get your car worked on while you are at work?  We will be happy to pick up your car and, depending on the services needed, return it to you before you leave. Talk about convenient! If your service takes longer than a few hours we also offer loaner vehicles.  If you would like a beach day (maybe this time of year is not the most ideal... but we don't judge..) we will chauffer you and yours down to the beach so you can enjoy the salt air and relax while also being productive. There is nothing more peac ... read more

Rotors   What are they? Rotors, with assistance from the brake pads and calipers, cause your car to slow down and/or stop. They are the circular metal part that the brake pads rub against to cause the wheels to stop spinning. They are as important as brake pads for stopping.   Why do they go bad? Heat isn’t a friend of metal parts. Heat from friction can cause warping and wear. For those of you that remember LP records, think of records that were left in the sun.   Signs you need new rotors. Squeaking, rough stopping, vibrating when slowing, When your rotors go bad you will hear it and feel it. Make it over to your mechanic as soon as possible.   Helpful Info Rotors should be replaced every 30-70 thousand miles. And when you change the rotors you should change your brake pads too. Since the rotors and brake pads rub together the brake pads are ‘mated&rsquo ... read more