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Yearly Archives: 2017

Automotive Tips from PONTE'S AUTOCARE: Tire Replacement Overview

Tires are an expensive purchase, so knowing when tires should be replaced is important for Wilmington drivers. Tires will just wear out with normal use. The depth of the tread on your tire determines how well it will stop, start and steer – especially in wet conditions. 4/32th of an inch (3.2 mm) of tire tread is considered a safe amount of tread.Uneven tread wear can be a symptom of other problems, and simply replacing your tires will not prevent the same uneven wear from happening to the new tires. At PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington, we can inspect your tires for excessive or uneven wear. Unusual wear may lead to further inspection of steering, suspension or alignment problems. We can help with necessary repairs and with getting you the right tires for your needs.Give us a call.PONTE'S AUTOCARE2401 Concord PikeWilmington, Delaware 1980330

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Tires and Wheels

Hey Wilmington Drivers: How Do You Save Gas?

Higher Wilmington fuel prices aren't going away any time soon. That's not good news for our wallets. A lot of Wilmington drivers are trying to find ways to cut down on fuel consumption and hang on to some of their hard-earned money.North Americans drive billions of miles less during months of high fuel prices. That's right, billions. Of course Delaware vehicle owners can't stop driving altogether, so we still need to find other ways to cut fuel bills.Preventive maintenance at PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington and good vehicle care can actually pay for themselves by lowering our fuel consumption. Here's a real-life example of how that can work.A family planned a four-day camping trip. Before leaving, they took their SUV into PONTE'S AUTOCARE for an oil change. They flushed the cooling system, serviced all three differentials and cleaned the fuel system. They replaced the PCV valve and breather element. Then they checked the tires to ensure they had en ... read more

Categories:

Fuel Economy

How Does PONTE'S AUTOCARE Know What to Recommend?

When you drop your vehicle off at PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington, they don't just poke around under your hood looking for stuff to do. PONTE'S AUTOCARE professionals have lists and procedures they follow for different types of service. First of all, your Wilmington service center will note the mileage on your vehicle. They'll then check to see what inspections and services the vehicle manufacturer recommends for a vehicle of your make, model and mileage. If you are a regular customer, they will also check your vehicle's history.If the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations go beyond the services you've ordered, they'll let you know. They'll also indicate whether those services are urgent or if you can wait a while to take care of them. The PONTE'S AUTOCARE pros won't do work that you don't agree to.They will, however, perform inspections while they're servicing your vehicle. They'll check belts, filters and fluids. They'll check your windshield wipers for wear. Th ... read more

Need a New Battery? Call PONTE'S AUTOCARE Today

Hello Wilmington drivers! Need a new battery? There is a good chance that you do – 70% of batteries need to be replaced within four years. As your battery discharges and then recharges as you drive around Wilmington, bits of the surface of the battery plates disintegrate. As this process continues over a few years, the alternator has to work harder to supplement the battery charge. Over time, enough of the battery is damaged that it can no longer hold a charge and it needs to be replaced. This also speeds up wear on the alternator.Your PONTE'S AUTOCARE service advisor can help you determine the right vehicle replacement battery for the way you drive around Wilmington, as well as the Delaware climate and durability needs.Contact PONTE'S AUTOCARE for information on battery replacement.Give us a call. PONTE'S AUTOCARE 2401 Concord Pike Wilmington, Delaware 19803 302

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Battery

Should Wilmington Soccer Moms Follow the Severe Service Schedule?

So you take your vehicle in for maintenance and the pro at PONTE'S AUTOCARE tells you that you ought to change your oil more often. What? You followed the maintenance schedule – but you take a second look at that “severe service” schedule and see some of the following: 1. Most of your trips around Wilmington are less than four miles/six and a half kilometers.2. Most of your trips are less than 10 miles/16 km when outside Delaware temperatures are below freezing.3. You don't do a lot of Delaware freeway driving, so you drive at low speeds most of the time.4. You drive in an area with a lot of pollution, dust, dirt, mud or slush.5. You frequently tow a trailer, haul heavy loads around Wilmington or use a car-top carrier.6. The weather in your area can get very hot or very cold.Surprising, isn't it? Severe driving isn't quite what you'd envisioned.Ask yourself: "Which auto service schedule should I follow?" For some of us, it's obvious. But for ... read more

The PONTE'S AUTOCARE Guide to Proper Fluids for Your Vehicle

The automotive professionals at PONTE'S AUTOCARE would like to give Wilmington drivers an update on some of the things happening in automotive fluids. You know, vehicles are becoming more sophisticated every day.  Fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace.The Wilmington do-it-yourselfer has to be pretty careful so that they do not actually harm their vehicle with the wrong type of fluid. That is why so many Delaware ] owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable PONTE'S AUTOCARE service advisor to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their vehicle and their driving habits in the Wilmington area.Let's start with engine oil. Wilmington drivers who have been paying attention will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the Delaware scene in the last several years. Mod ... read more

Categories:

Fluids

Combustion Choreography: Timing Belt Replacement at PONTE'S AUTOCARE in Wilmington

Have you ever seen a ballet performance? Have you wondered how all of those dancers manage to travel all over the stage jumping and twirling and never crash into each other? That's the job of a choreographer.Our auto engines are also highly choreographed. Pistons travel up and down inside cylinders. Valves at the tops of the cylinders open to let air and fuel in or exhaust out. These valves have to open and close at precisely the right time or the engine will run poorly if at all. The movement of the valves and pistons must be in harmony with each other. This choreography is the job of the timing belt or timing chain.Timing belts, or chains, rotate the shafts that control the opening and closing of the valves. Timing chains are metal and durable enough that they may never need to be replaced.Most vehicles, however, use a timing belt. Timing belts are tough and flexible, and considering the work they do, they last a long time for Wilmington auto owners . But they do wear out. If th ... read more

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Timing Belt
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