Somersworth Auto Repair

It is possible for a car to last a lifetime. However, there are certain elements that cars are exposed to which can greatly shorten the life of the vehicle. If your car will spend any of it’s life near the ocean, the salt in the water can be carried in the wind and can easily damage your vehicle. To combat the effect the salt air has on your vehicle, you should frequently wash your vehicle with soap and water to remove any salt residue. Individuals that live in snow states where salt is used to de-ice the roads will find that their vehicle is under constant attack by the salt. It reacts with the metal of the vehicle and causes rust to form. To combat the rust, you should routinely wash your vehicle during the winter months, as often as three times a week. An easy way to remove the salt residue from your vehicle is to go to a coin-operated car wash that has high-powered hoses. Spray the underside of your vehicle, as well as the rest of the car’s body, to remove all of the sa ... read more

Maintaining your vehicle is important for its optimal performance. If your vehicle is left unchecked and unmaintained, you can end up with a large repair bill or may even lead to having to the big expense of purchasing a new vehicle. Your car oil is an important component of your car. The oil needs to be changed at regular intervals to ensure that the engine remains in good shape. Oil changes should happen typically every 3 months or 3,000 miles. Car tires also need to be checked. You should make sure that they are properly inflated on a monthly basis. Check the pressure rating that’s listed in the driver’s side doorjamb for the correct reading. Having the proper amount of air in your tires, as well as frequently having them rotated, will extend the life of the product. Air filters also need to be changed at scheduled intervals. The car engine will endure a great amount of stress and have reduced performance if it cannot properly breathe. You can either refer to you ... read more

Weather can change for the worse at any moment. Knowing how to properly handle your car can prevent serious damage to your vehicle and can even save your life. A severe rain storm or snow storm sometimes form quickly. They can cause slippery or whiteout conditions that will make your trip dangerous. When you are caught driving in a bad weather pattern, you will need to consider several things. Do you feel comfortable traveling at your current rate of speed? Is the road congested with other traffic? Driving slowly is always sound advice to follow, however depending upon the circumstances, it may not be an adequate amount of precautionary measures. If you feel that you can continue driving, then you should slow down so that you can have a large distance between your car and those that are in front of you. If you are uncomfortable driving, you should pull over immediately onto the shoulder and turn your hazard lights on. You should remain in the car until you feel at ease with ... read more

Bad tires can make your vehicle difficult to drive or create a driving hazard, because balding or misaligned tires will slip in certain weather conditions. In addition, if your tires are not properly inflated, by being under or over inflated, your ties can wear down prematurely which will require a new set of tires. Even without premature wear, tires need to be replaced a few times during the span of your car’s life. It’s important to check your tires at least once a month to see signs of advanced wearing on the inner and outer side of the tires, or if one side of the tire is wearing faster than the other. If you notice either of these premature conditions, then you should consider purchasing new set of tires from our shop. Some tires have wear-indicators that will notify you that it is time for a new set of tires. If you do not have these indicators, you can use the penny test to determine if your tires are good. This test requires you to insert a penny into a tread groove ... read more