Wilmington Auto Repair

There are some things drivers should know about Wilmington car service and repair. First and foremost, PONTE'S AUTOCARE cares about you and your family's safety. And we really appreciate your business. PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington wants to build a trusting relationship that becomes the foundation for a mutually beneficial experience for years to come.Building on that foundation, there are some things that would help you understand the auto service and repair business better. First, it can be really hard to fix vehicles. The days of shade tree mechanics are long gone. The majority of automotive systems are computerized. It takes a lot of training and very expensive equipment to diagnose and repair modern vehicles. The pros who work for PONTE'S AUTOCARE need extensive computer training – not just how to run the diagnostic systems, but also searching for the right parts, networking with other technicians to help them with a difficult problem and pu ... read more

Getting adequate fuel to your engine is very important for performance, fuel economy and safety. In order to accomplish this, your fuel system needs to be clean.Today's production cars have fuel injectors, rather than a carburetor. The injectors need to be cleaned from time to time in order to deliver the fuel with the correct pressure, spray pattern and volume.Wilmington drivers can buy fuel system cleaners that you pour into your gas tank to help maintain an already clean fuel system; however, they can't do a major cleaning. For that, you need to see PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington. We have the tools and chemicals to do the job right. Our friendly and knowledgeable team at PONTE'S AUTOCARE can remove particles, gum and varnish from your fuel system and get those injectors running cleanly and efficiently. You'll find PONTE'S AUTOCARE at 2401 Concord Pike in Wilmington, Delaware 19803. Or just give us a call at 302-478-9786 to schedule an appointment. You'll enjoy more power, better fue ... read more

High gas prices in Wilmington increase the cost of living for Delaware drivers. You've probably budgeted a certain amount for vehicle related expenses. Increased fuel costs now consume a larger portion of our incomes, causing some Wilmington vehicle owners to skimp in other areas – like scheduled maintenance.According to Delaware news reports and automotive industry studies, this is becoming increasingly more common. In fact, nine out of ten personal vehicles on the road have at least one maintenance or repair item that hasn't been done. Some of these items pose serious safety risks. Others are just more likely to make it more expensive to drive. In this area, we can take a lesson from professional Wilmington vehicle owners. I'm talking about fleet owners and operators. You know, Wilmington folks like the trucking companies and delivery services. Because their livelihood depends on it, they ... read more

So what is the most distracting food to have in the car while driving around Wilmington?Is it: A Hamburger; Coffee; A Soft Drink, or Gummy Bears? Well, you may be surprised to learn that all but the gummy bears are in the top ten most distracting foods when you are driving. But if you chose 'coffee,' then give yourself an extra two points.  Coffee is the number one food distraction for drivers in Wilmington and around the country.Food distractions cause 25 percent of all car accidents; over a million and a half each year!You'll notice that all of the top ten distracting food items are messy. Messy foods are the types of food you might spill (very distracting!), then try to clean up (a safe-driving impossibility!). If you gotta eat on the run, take five-then drive. You'll thank yourself later for two reasons: one, that you can actually relax for just a moment in our fast-paced world, and two, you won't have to worry about ge ... read more

Looking at getting some new tires? Maybe the real reason for wanting those off-highway tires is that they look cool. Well there's nothing wrong with that. If you make sure that you've got your functional needs covered with your selection, then you can have some fun with where you go from there.Let's suppose you zip around Wilmington in a sporty car. You may like to run a high-performance summer tire when the weather's good. When Delaware weather turns cold, you can put on high-performance winter tires. For the kind of driving you like to do, you want full-on performance tires. All-season tires are naturally a compromise that works well for most Wilmington drivers, but since you have a choice, go for dedicated summer and winter tires.When it's time for new tires, visit with a knowledgeable PONTE'S AUTOCARE tire professional. Describe your needs and wants. He'll come up with some selections for you to discuss. And once you settle on a type of tire, there are options for special needs: l ... read more

We've all seen drivers do crazy things while driving to or from Wilmington. A guy shaving in the rear-view mirror, a woman applying makeup, people talking on their phones, texting or drinking from an enormous coffee mug. It's a wonder we even dare drive on Delaware roads.The truth is that all of us are distracted when we drive. Unfortunately, traffic, road construction and other external factors are beyond our control. The distractions inside our car, however, are things we can often control.Here's some things that'll give you more control in your car, and help keep your attention on the roads around Wilmington. Wilmington drivers who are 16 to 20 years old tend to be more distracted by the radio, CD or MP3 player. Wilmington drivers who are 20 to 29 are more distracted by passengers in the car, including small children. Those over age 65 tend to be more distracted by objects or events that are outside of the vehicle. Other factors like fatigue, stress and lack of sleep make it hard ... read more

Since driving requirements and lifestyles differ among Wilmington drivers, your vehicle manufacturer publishes two auto maintenance schedules: the regular schedule and the severe service schedule. Which schedule should Wilmington drivers follow? Here are some questions to ask yourself:Are most of your trips less than four miles/six kilometers around Wilmington?Are most of your trips less than 10 miles/16 kilometers in below-zero Delaware temps?Are most of your trips off-highway in Delaware?Do you drive often in dusty Wilmington areas?Do you regularly tow a trailer or carry heavy loads around Wilmington?Do you drive in very hot or very cold Delaware weather?Think about your typical week. Do you live by your nearest Wilmington on-ramp and enjoy a non-stop commute? Or, do you drive the neighborhood car pool in stop-and-go traffic on Wilmington surface streets? Let's suppose your owner's manual says the severe service oil change recommendation is 3,000 miles ... read more

During an inspection at PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington, your friendly and knowledgeable automotive service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts. Here's a quick rundown of suspension system components: There are the springs which hold the weight of your vehicle. There are several varieties of springs. Springs are heavy duty parts that rarely break or wear out. Shock absorbers work in conjunction with springs to smooth out the ride and help keep the tires on the road. Good shocks are essential for handling performance and ride comfort. You've probably heard of struts. They combine a shock absorber and a coil spring in one unit. Shocks and struts will wear out over time. If your tires develop a cupped wear pattern, your shocks or struts may be wearing out. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your vehicle dives excessively when stopping ... read more

At PONTE'S AUTOCARE we hear from a lot of people who are excited about the new diesel engines that will soon be available in passenger cars and SUV's. But our Delaware friends are often curious about the preventive maintenance requirements. People may not know that diesel engines have long been used extensively in Europe and Asia. In fact, in some markets, there're nearly as many diesel powered passenger cars as there are gasoline.Here's who's announced or is expected to announce new diesels for North America: BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Subaru. Of course, the US auto makers will be expanding their diesel offerings as well. Diesels will become a very big deal here in Delaware.You may ask, why has it taken so long getting to Delaware and North America? There are a bunch of reasons like fuel tax policies and such, but the biggest hurtle was that Delaware diesel fuel had a high sulfur content – too high for the latest generation of highly ref ... read more

Today, PONTE'S AUTOCARE is writing about the proper fluids for your vehicle. It's become more complicated with changes in automotive design and manufacturing. It's not that people in Wilmington are confused as much as they don't realize how much things have changed in recent years. If you have questions about the fluids in your vehicle, please don't hesitate to stop by PONTE'S AUTOCARE. You can find us on 2401 Concord Pike in Wilmington, Delaware 19803.Just give us a call at 302-478-9786. Let's take engine oil. Twenty or 30 years ago, there were just a handful of different weights of oil. The weight of an oil is a scientific measure of its properties, particularly its viscosity or thickness.It was common in those days to use a lighter weight oil in the winter when it's cold outside. That way the oil would be able to splash around inside the engine and protect the parts before it was fully warmed up. And a heavier w ... read more