Now Hiring: Technician!

Apply here

Articles:

Deciphering the PONTE'S AUTOCARE Menu Board

Let's talk about deciphering the auto service menu board. Wilmington, Delaware, service centers like PONTE'S AUTOCARE have a board that lists the routine services they provide. But some people don't know what these services really are unless they ask. Let's go down a typical list, in alphabetical order, starting with air conditioning service. Feel free at any time to give PONTE'S AUTOCARE a call at 302-478-9786 to learn of the many services we offer, or stop by our Wilmington, Delaware auto center at 2401 Concord Pike, 19803. First remember that all of these services are recommended by vehicle manufacturers. They set how often or at how many miles/kilometers the service should be done.Air conditioning service involves purging the old refrigerant and capturing it for proper disposal. Then fresh refrigerant is installed. The fresh refrigerant will lubricate the system and will also hel ... read more

PONTE'S AUTOCARE Maintenance Tips: The Belt Goes On

PONTE'S AUTOCARE Maintenance Tips: The Belt Goes On

All Wilmington service advisors know that without the alternator, the battery will go dead in a few miles. The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. And on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump circulates coolant through the engine to keep it within normal operating temperatures. (On some vehicles, the water pump is powered by the timing belt instead of the serpentine belt.) So you can see the serpentine belt does a lot of work. And it if breaks, it affects a lot of systems. That's why your vehicle manufacturer and your service advisor at PONTE'S AUTOCARE have recommended that it be changed every so often so that it doesn't fail.Your friendly and knowledgeable PONTE'S AUTOCARE service advisor can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Wilmington Road Trip Preparation

People from Wilmington, Delaware, love their cars. And nothing goes with cars better than a Delaware road trip. Freedom from daily schedules, new sights and the open road – it's great! But there's nothing like car trouble to bring the fun to a grinding halt.You can't always avoid problems, but you can take steps to reduce the probability of getting sidelined on your trip. Heading out on a Delaware road trip? Stop by PONTE'S AUTOCARE before you head out to make sure everything is in good repair. Let's look at some of the auto maintenance related problems you might encounter on a road trip in Delaware and what you might do to avoid them.The most common vehicle component to fail is the tires. Of course, you can't always avoid a road hazard that leads to a flat, but you may be able to head off some maintenance-connected tire problems.A good tire inspection at PONTE'S AUTOCARE will start ... read more

Categories:

Inspection

Air Conditioning Maintenance at PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington

Warm weather or cold, Wilmington drivers still need to think about their vehicle's air conditioning. Most Wilmington people don't service their air conditioning until after it fails. At PONTE'S AUTOCARE, we can advise you on your vehicle manufacturers preventive maintenance schedules for air conditioning service, just as we do for transmission service, oil changes and so on. Maintaining your air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job. Small leaks in the vehicle's air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can't cool the air as well. We see that a lot at PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington.The refrigerant also contains oil that lubricates air conditioning components and keeps the seals resilient. Low refrigerant and lubricating oil means that the air conditioning parts will wear out prematurely, and all Wilmington vehicle owners know that air conditioning repairs ca ... read more

Categories:

Air Conditioning

Lease or Buy?

Lease? Or buy? These are the options for Wilmington drivers. It's always a tough question for auto owners, but here is some info that'll help you make an informed decision.If you buy, you'll pay the full cost of the vehicle, maybe an initial down payment, monthly payments on the balance that pays down the loan principal, and the finance charge.Wilmington drivers who lease finance the portion of the cost of the vehicle that's used up during the term of the lease. You'll pay some money up front: fees, security deposit, first month's payment and maybe a capital reduction. The monthly payments include a depreciation cost and a finance charge. When the lease is up, you return the vehicle to your local Wilmington area dealership. So how do Wilmington drivers decide?First, how much do you have for a down payment? A lease usually requires a smaller down payment.How much monthly payment can you afford? Again, lease payments will ... read more

Categories:

Automotive News

When Are Your Tires Worn Out?

  Hey Wilmington area drivers, are your tires worn out? What is the standard for our Delaware streets? How can you tell on your vehicle?While there may be legal requirements for the Wilmington area, there are safety concerns that go beyond meeting minimum replacement mandates.Two-thirty-seconds of an inch is the depth of the tire tread wear indicator bars that US law has required to be molded across all tires since August 1, 1968. When tires are worn so that this bar is visible, there's just 2/32 of an inch – 1.6 millimeters – of tread left. It's that level of wear that's been called into question recently.We're referring to the tread depth on a tire, it can't move surface water out of the way and you start to hydroplane.In a safety study, a section of a test track was flooded with a thin layer of water. If you laid a dime on the track, the water would be deep enough to surround the coin, but not enough to cover it.A car and a full-sized pick-up accelerated&n ... read more

Categories:

Tires and Wheels

Which Item Is Most Stolen from Vehicles in Wilmington?

  Which item is most often stolen from vehicles in Wilmington?Is it: Stereo Wheels Air Bag DVD System Well, if you said stereo – you used to be right. But airbags have now surpassed stereos as the biggest target for theft in Delaware – approximately 50,000 a year are stolen across the country. New airbags cost about $1,000, but go for $50 to $200 on the black market in Delaware.Stolen airbags are making their way back into cars that have been in an accident. Of course, the danger to the consumer of having a stolen airbag installed is that you can never be sure what may have previously affected them and if they will work right when you need them. Contact us at PONTE'S AUTOCARE for more information about where to get your airbags checked or replaced.Find us at 2401 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware 19803You can reach us by phone at: 302-478-9786 There are reports that 1 in 25 airbag replacements ... read more

Categories:

Maintenance

Differential Service in Wilmington, Delaware - What You Need to Know

Scratching your head? Don't worry, if you don't know what a differential is – you will in a moment. That fact is that if you drive a car anywhere in Wilmington, Delaware, you have a differential. Whether your vehicle is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, you have a differential. Some Wilmington vehicles might even have two or three.Not surprisingly, a differential's job is to compensate for differences; specifically, they're the differences in wheel speed when turning. For instance, imagine taking a corner near your Wilmington, Delaware, home. Your inside wheel has a shorter distance to travel than the outside wheel as you turn the corner. That means that your outside wheel has to turn faster to keep pace with the inside wheel.The differential allows the wheels to turn at different speeds while still providing power to your vehicle. Without a differential, Wilmington residents' tires would scrub and hop along the pavement during turns like the early ca ... read more

Categories:

Drive Train

Wilmington Safety Systems: Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Wilmington Safety Systems: Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Flats, blow outs, skids and longer stopping distances can all be the result of driving around Wilmington on underinflated tires. Admittedly, it's hard to tell when a radial tire is underinflated. If your vehicle manufacturer recommends 35 pounds of pressure, your vehicle tires are considered significantly underinflated at 26 pounds. The tire may not look low until it gets below 20 pounds.New laws require all vehicles to include a tire pressure monitor system, or TPMS. This technology has been used by race car drivers for years. They are able to head off problems from underinflation by closely monitoring tire pressure on the track. It's up to your vehicle's manufacturer to determine which of many TPMS systems available they'll use to comply with the law.Obviously, all of this doesn't come free for Wilmington drivers. Government studies have estimated the net costs. Of course, the TPMS system itself will cost something. Maintaining t ... read more

Categories:

Tires and Wheels

Steer Right in Wilmington

Virtually all vehicles come with power steering, so many Wilmington drivers have never driven a car or truck without it. Power steering assists you when you turn your vehicle steering wheel. Without it, it would be very hard to steer. Now this power assist comes in a couple of forms. In recent years, a lot of vehicles have an electric motor that reduces steering effort and helps improve performance and handling. The other kind of power steering is hydraulic. This is the kind most older Delaware vehicles — and a lot of newer ones — have. Power steering fluid is pressurized by a pump and is used to assist steering. Of course, vehicles need the right amount of fluid in the system. If it's too low, your steering is affected and you could damage your vehicle pump. Also, power steering fluid can become corrosive over time and damage the pump, hoses and connectors, leading to leaks and repairs. Power s ... read more

Categories:

Steering
Ponte's Auto Care is committed to ensuring effective communication and digital accessibility to all users. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and apply the relevant accessibility standards to achieve these goals. We welcome your feedback. Please call Ponte's Auto Care (302) 478-9786 if you have any issues in accessing any area of our website.