Wilmington Auto Repair

This fuel saving tip is so simple, no one will believe it. It has to do with your gas cap.The first thing is to make sure it's screwed on tight. If it's loose, gas vapor will be constantly leaking out; wasted gas.This could cause the Check Engine light to come on as well.A worn gas cap can have the same effect. If you constantly smell gas when you walk by your tank, you might need a new gas cap.So, twist your cap until it clicks three times – that means it's on tight. Have your Wilmington area service advisor at PONTE'S AUTOCARE inspect the cap to see if it needs to be replaced.See, I told you it was simple.Don't forget to call PONTE'S AUTOCARE at 302-478-9786 for an appointment to optimize your vehicle for better fuel economy.  PONTE'S AUTOCARE 2401 Concord Pike Wilmington, Delaware 19803 302

Do you ever shop for shoes in one of our Wilmington area shoe stores?When buying a running shoe, is quality important?Does durability matter as long as the shoes look fabulous?Would you rather have one pair of long lasting shoes or two pair of lower quality shoes at the same price?Is the warranty important when buying tires?When you choose new tires in Wilmington, what's the most important factor for you? Give us a call at PONTE'S AUTOCARE at 302-478-9786 for tire recommendations. You know, buying tires in Wilmington is a big deal. It's a big ticket item so you know you'll be spending a lot. You're not only concerned about the price, but you want to know that it'll be a long time before you need to buy new tires again.And of course there's the safety aspect as well. The tires do a lot of work – they carry the weight of the vehicle and you and your passengers. They need to be up to the task. You want to b ... read more

Wilmington residents often ask the question: "Will using premium gas make my car run better?" The answer is simple. But first, let's talk about what exactly premium gasoline is.Different grades of gasoline have different octane ratings. Regular gasoline has the lowest octane rating and premium the highest. Most gas stations around Wilmington, Delaware, also carry a mid-grade that falls in between the two. The octane range for the different grades of gas varies by region due to altitude differences.Engines require different octane ratings because of design differences. For example, turbocharged engines usually require premium gas.There's a sticker on your gas tank filler lid that tells you the minimum octane rating your vehicle manufacturer recommends. For help identifying the type of gasoline your engine needs, come by PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington. PONTE'S AUTOCARE2401 Concord PikeWilmington, Delaware 1980330

Wilmington drivers want their tires to last as long as possible. Two ways to extend tire life are wheel balancing and tire rotation.When wheels are out of balance, they wobble and vibrate. That makes the tires wear in a cupping pattern. If a front wheel is out of balance you'll feel it in the steering wheel. If it's a rear wheel you'll feel it through your seat. To fix this, your technician at PONTE'S AUTOCARE puts weights on your wheels to balance them out.That brings us to tire rotation. The front tires on a vehicle wear out faster than the rear tires. As they push through turns, the shoulders of the front tires wear down. So rotating front and rear tires allows them to all wear at about the same rate over the life of the tire.Proper tire inflation will also help Wilmington folks' tires last longer. Underinflated tires wear more on the shoulder and may even overheat. This could cause tire damage or a blow out. Overinflated tires wear too fast in the middle.Four-wheel ... read more

Wilmington auto owners may know that most automotive failures in Wilmington, Delaware, are tire related, but do you know the second most common cause of vehicle failure? Nope, it's not teenagers. It is the coolant system. But if you take good care of your vehicle coolant system, it will take good care of you.A vehicle's engine creates a lot of heat - so much heat, that if it is not properly cooled, the engine can lock up, resulting in massive damage and repair bills. But when everything is working right, your vehicle engine operates at the proper temperature and all is well. Without antifreeze in your cooling system, the water could freeze and cause vehicle engine damage. This could be very expensive, not to mention inconvenient.The right mix of water and antifreeze protects the engine against damage from freezing and overheating. Antifreeze also protects the coolant system against corrosion that could cause the system to fail. The thing to remember is this: coolant system failur ... read more

Your vehicle is important to you, and keeping it running properly is important to your lifestyle. That's why you're smart enough to have it serviced regularly at PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington. And even though it may just be routine maintenance, you want it done right by automotive professionals.It's also very important to your Wilmington service center to keep you happy and on the road. You might be surprised at the amount of money our Wilmington auto service center spends annually to make sure our friendly and knowledgeable technicians are properly trained.PONTE'S AUTOCARE offers a variety of automotive services for many kinds of vehicles. We need to be current on the latest techniques and parts so that we can give you quality service. Our Wilmington service centers subscribe to data services that list the high quality parts and fluids recommended by your manufacturer.And each service has a checklist of standard procedures. PONTE'S AUTOCARE technicians follow these procedures s ... read more

Power steering is standard on nearly every vehicle in Wilmington, Delaware, these days. Now there are some exotic, new types of power steering systems, but for the most part, the general setup is a pump that's driven by a belt powered by the engine. Contact the automotive professionals at PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington for questions about your power steering. The pump generates power that assists drivers as they steer their vehicle around Wilmington, Delaware. Power steering systems use hoses to move pressurized fluid back and forth. These hoses can develop leaks so it's a good idea to have PONTE'S AUTOCARE inspect them at every oil change. A check of the power steering fluid level is on the list for every full service oil change at PONTE'S AUTOCARE because low fluid can damage the power steering pump. And the fluid needs to be compatible with the hoses and seals, so it's important to use the correct type – just ask your service ... read more

One Wilmington automotive service issue that doesn't get much attention is driveline service. Drivelines don't get talked about very much around Wilmington, but they're very important. First let's define what the driveline is:Taking a small step back, the power plant is comprised of the engine and transmission. The driveline starts there and includes all of the components that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels.That's not really a lot of components, but they handle the full force of the engine. Without the driveline you're not moving. So Wilmington residents need to take good care of it. The driveline components differ depending on whether your vehicle has front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive or four wheel drive. For purposes of our discussion, we're going to have to oversimplify a bit. If you are ready to have your drive train looked at, give us a call at 302-478-9786. Let's start with front wheel drive. The point where ... read more

If the fuel system in your vehicle is dirty, you will be hurting your engine and losing performance as you drive around Wilmington, Delaware.Unless they drive a vintage car, Wilmington auto owners have fuel injectors which need to be properly maintained. That is why your vehicle owner's manual has a schedule for cleaning your fuel injectors and other parts of your fuel system.Your friendly and knowledgeable service advisor at PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington has the tools and chemicals to do the job right. PONTE'S AUTOCARE uses a process that gives your car a deep, professional fuel system cleaning. The particles, gum and varnish that build up in your fuel system are removed so that it can run cleanly and efficiently.After a professional fuel system cleaning atPONTE'S AUTOCARE, you'll notice more power, improved and reduced exhaust emissions. We strongly recommend you follow your fuel system cleaning service recommendations to keep ... read more

At PONTE'S AUTOCARE we get a lot of Wilmington drivers asking about vehicle trip preparation. That's a big deal. You could be driving through mountains and deserts in some pretty lonely areas around Delaware, so it's important to know that the vehicle is up to the task and won't leave you stranded.Smart Wilmington drivers plan ahead for a major road trip – and there are a lot of things to get ready. Where should you start? You could start with the tires. Look them over for tread wear and check to see that they are properly inflated. Take a quick test drive around Wilmington to see if you can feel any vibrations: Are the wheels in balance? Is the car tracking straight? Is the alignment ok? Come to PONTE'S AUTOCARE for a peace-of-mind trip inspection.2401 Concord Pike Wilmington, Delaware 19803 302-478-9786 The next thing is a full service oil change to make sure all of your fluids are topped ... read more