Margate City Auto Repair

A brief introduction to Car Coolant: This picture shows the worse consistency your coolant can have. Coolant fluid should flow like water. Coolant keeps your car operating at the temperature it needs to be at. Under the hood, it keeps your car from overheating and causing serious damage, like destroying the engine or causing leaks that can damage other systems. In the cabin where you spend most of the time, it affects your air conditioning and heating system.   What and Where is the coolant system? The coolant system works to keep your engine from overheating. It absorbs the heat and pushes the now-hot coolant toward the radiator where it is cooled. Major parts of the coolant system include the coolant reservoir, water pump, radiator, thermostat, hoses, and cylinder head in the engine. The Coolant system is in the front end of your car and around your engine block.   What can go wrong if you do not change your coolant or if the ... read more

Kinds of key fobs There are quite a few types of key fobs in the market today. The most common today is the switchblade or flip-style key fob, this one gives you the ability to hide the key when it is not in use. Key fobs range from aftermarket fobs to key fobs to ones that link directly to the Vin of your car, to the keyless fob. Key Fobs are getting more technologically advanced as time goes on. Some have remote start; some can summon your car and even park it! How often do the batteries need to be changed? For most key fobs the batteries last 3-4 years. Sometimes key fobs die without warning but usually, they start with not locking or unlocking the car with a single push of the button and build to it taking multiple tries to open or lock your car. Depending on the type of key fob you have you may be able to change the battery on your own with the battery size for your fob and a small screwdriver and the help of YouTube. If that sounds tedious t ... read more

It is important to check the fluids under your hood regularly. Sometimes it can be confusing under there and it is important to get the fluids into the right place. Colin and Pooh Bear walk you through what to look for in this video to take all the guesswork out of figuring out what fluid goes where.  https://youtu.be/S_towp5Q0WM The fluids you should be checking at least once a month are:  Oil Windshield wiper fluid Power steering fluid Brake Fluid Coolant Transmission Fluid- This may or may not be in your car. Some cars have an electric transmission, which does not need fluid.  The reason for the monthly check is to catch a leak and to check the color and quality of the fluids. For warned is forearmed and catching things early can not only help your car but your wallet as well. 

How do you know if your transmission is bad?What is a transmission and where is it located? The nuts and bolts of it is that the transmission translates the power your engine makes to the wheels of our car. It manages the stop, go, and how fast your car moves. Where the transmission is depends on the make and model of the car, but it is usually in the front-middle of the car. So that is where to look for fluid leaking or where the sounds will usually be coming from. Transmissions usually need service around 60-90K. We take the guess work and the need to track these services off your plate and let you know when it’s time for such maintenances. What are signs that my Transmission is going?Sound: If you hear grinding, or like something is not catching when you change speeds, slow down, or come to a stop. Whining, humming, and clunking sounds are also indicators. Sight: Fluids ... 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

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

So, your precious babyies are off to college! You want to make sure they’re prepared and safe. You have their dorm room supplies, class schedules, and you have all the emergency numbers tattooed to their arm. (ok, so maybe not tattooed). Have you checked on their car? Teenagers are notorious for letting car problems slide until the last minute. So, is their car up to scratch? Let’s see. ENGINE- Does the car have any check engine lights on? FUNCTION-Does everything work properly? (AC, Radio, Seat belts, turn signals?) WIPER BLADES-Do the wiper blades wipe away the rain? LIGHTS-Headlights, Brake lights, cabin lights, running lights? All glowing brightly? EMERGENCY CAR KIT-Do they have jumper cables and an emergency kit? BASIC CAR CARE-Do they have the know how to change a car tire? Can they read tire pressure? Can they execute basic car care? FLUIDS ... read more

Air Filters Cars can have one or two air filters. One is for your engine and new models have one for your breathing air. Your cabin air filter is located usually behind your dash on the passenger side of the car. Your air filter for your engine is located at the top of your engine in its own housing. Why do air filters matter to you? Air filters prevent debris from getting into your engine and damaging it. It also helps your car to run. Cars work on a combustion system. You need a spark and you need oxygen. Having clean filters also increases fuel economy. Cabin air filters protect the breathing air from pollen and dirt. Signs something is wrong: You’ve notice a drop-in fuel efficacy Your car sounds funny Your car has a check engine light Reduction of horsepower Your car is misfiring Smell of gasoline Black smoke and/or flames coming out of the exhaust Below are examples of clean and dirty engine air filters

So, you’ve been with your car a little over a year now. Your mind is beginning to wonder about what’s in store for you down the road. Your thinking about what could go wrong, and if you’re going to make it thru the rough times ahead. If you are anything like me you’re going to want to know what to expect. Usually if you do your routine maintenance you shouldn't have many problems (aside from a flat tire here and there, that darn nail!) Important flushes: Brake fluid Flush- 30k or every 2 years Coolant Flush- 30k or every 5 years Transmission Flush= CVT every 2 years (type of fluid) or 15 k for Honda and Acura Power steering Flush- 75-100k Rear differential- 30k-60k Induction Cleaning- 30k (15k with a lot of city driving) Important parts replacements: Timing Belts-60k-105k Shocks-4-5 years Water pump- 100k if you have a good one, a cheap one can go at 30k, also should be changed with timing belt if its driven by timing belt ... read more

So, you’ve found your mechanic. That is wonderful news. Congrats! I’m so happy for you both. As happy as you guys are, do you find your conversations beginning to lag? Why don’t you ask him about regular maintenance that your cars going to need? My mechanic calls these 3k, 6k, 9k and yearly maintence. (I did warn you that its going be 4-ish times a year.) I like to call them my seasonal visits. If you would rather get a break down from me, well buckle up honey. You’re in for a ride. The first one that’s due is fondly called the 3K maintenance. Now this ideally should be your 1st date with your mechanic unless you had him peak at your car before you bought it. Why is it called a 3K you ask? That would be because this visit should be scheduled right around 3,000 miles traveled in your car. This one varies depending on what oil you use in your car. Conventional or synthetic. If you run on conventional you’re going to need an oil change. Run on syntheti ... read more