Lancaster auto repair

When your vehicle breaks down in the LANCASTER, SC, area, or just needs some routine service, it can make you a little nervous. Because your vehicle's so important to your life, you need to be back on the road as soon as possible — with the problem fixed right the first time.We've been checking into some of the training our LANCASTER, SC, technicians receive, and we're very impressed. It's amazing how much knowledge and skill goes into diagnosing and repairing a modern vehicle. So it's not like when your uncle worked on his hot rod over the weekend.Today there are four-cylinder engines around LANCASTER that make more power than the V-8's in luxury cars did 20 years ago. A new V-6 Toyota Camry could beat Sonny Crocket's Ferrari in a race to 60 mph/97 kph.Our engines are more and more powerful. And they're so reliable. This is all due to engineering. But the benefits come to LANCASTER drivers at the price of simplicity. Modern cars are so much more complex from ... read more

About 90% of our driving decisions in the LANCASTER area are based solely on what we see. So having a good pair of windshield wipers is extremely important.Most LANCASTER drivers have experienced the frustration and fear of not being able to see clearly during a storm, or when our vehicle windshield is just dirty. In fact, it's estimated that 46,000,000 drivers across the nation are driving with wipers that can't adequately clear their windshield in a storm.It seems like our wiper blades are always at their worst when we need them the most. If that sounds like you, you've got plenty of company in the LANCASTER area. 78% of drivers only change their wiper blades after the blades function so poorly that they become a safety hazard.LANCASTER drivers need to change their thinking. Instead of blades being something to replace when they fail, we need to consider wiper blades as vehicle safety component. Then we'll stay ahead of the sto ... read more

The government mandates a lot of equipment on cars in LANCASTER, SC: emission devices and control computers, safety equipment like airbags and crash worthiness requirements. All of this is great for the LANCASTER motoring public, but it does add quite a bit to the price of a new vehicle.Because new vehicles are more expensive, people in the LANCASTER area are driving their old vehicles longer. The average vehicle is now over nine years old. Two thirds of vehicles on the road in SC have more than 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on them. As cars age, their performance drops, they have difficulty idling for long periods and are more sensitive to weather extremes. Fortunately today's cars are up to the challenge – but they need a little help to keep on goin'.Give Drivenmotos Auto Care Clinic a call at 8037180651 to schedule your next maintenance.Some owner's manuals don't specify service requirements at higher mileage. That doesn't mean it doesn't have to be ... read more

All LANCASTER 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 Drivenmotos Auto Care Clinic have recommended that it be changed every so often so that it doesn't fail.Your friendly and knowledgeable Drivenmotos Auto Care Clinic service advisor can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soo ... read more

SC service centers have a menu board that lists the services they provide. Some LANCASTER drivers may not be familiar with all of the items on the board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed.Drivenmotos Auto Care Clinic fuel system cleaning: Over time, the vehicle fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas, by the way.Drivenmotos Auto Care Clinic headlamp replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. It's usually good to change them every year or so.Drivenmotos Auto Care Clinic inspections: LANCASTER drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they're going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle's ready for a SC summer or winter. Maybe they just bought a used vehicle and want to give it the once over. An inspection may reveal some things that are ... read more

Have you checked out the price of new vehicles at LANCASTER car dealers? Ouch! Add financing and insurance and a new ride may not seem so attractive. A lot of LANCASTER, SC, folks are hoping to make their cars last a lot longer.Fortunately, with the current state of automotive engineering and manufacturing, there's no reason a modern vehicle can't be made to last for a 150,000 miles (250,000 kilometers) or more for smart LANCASTER drivers.The old adage: 'a stitch in time saves nine' is really true for LANCASTER residents when it comes to car maintenance. A great example is coolant service.Over time, coolant becomes corrosive and actually starts to damage your radiator and other parts. Smart LANCASTER drivers have their cooling system service taken care of right on schedule at Drivenmotos Auto Care Clinic.Ditto for your power steering system, brake fluid, air conditioning system, differential and transmission. Of course, oil changes should be done right on schedule to avoid t ... read more

You've likely heard how important oil is to your vehicle's engine. Did you know that there's one part that's responsible for holding that oil so you can use it every day? It's called the oil pan, and it sits at the bottom of the engine. The oil pan is a vital, though simple, part of your engine's lubrication system. Oil circulates through parts of your engine to keep them lubricated. It reduces friction so everything works smoothly. Without oil, friction would quickly destroy your engine. The oil pan keeps that oil contained in the lubrication system, so it's important that the oil doesn't leak out. Since it's a metal part attached to another metal part, there is a gasket between the oil pan and the part of the engine it attaches to. Various things can put stress on the oil pan and gasket, including weather extremes, the speed you're traveling and the condition of the oil. You may drive over a couple of bad roads and kick up debris onto your oil pan. All this wear and tear, heat and ti ... read more

LANCASTER area residents may remember when the U.S. government's “Cash for Clunkers” program made a splash on the news scene. People were offered incentives to trade in old vehicles for new, in the interest of better and improved air quality from reduced emissions.But a lot of LANCASTER drivers want to hang onto their old clunkers. They're dependable and they're paid for. Owners would love to see the odometers on those vehicles turn past 200,000 miles (320,000 km), as long as the repair bills don't get too expensive.There are a lot of vehicles on SC roads that have run past the 200,000 mile (320,000 km) odometer reading. Is there something that their owners are doing that keeps these vehicles on the road? Or did they just win the “lemon lottery,” and luck out by getting a particularly good vehicle? Not surprisingly, most of these owners have something in common. They never skip an oil change. Can keeping a vehicle on the road for 200,000 mi ... read more