North and South Carolina Auto Repair

When many people think about their vehicle's electrical system, they think that the battery is the main power behind everything. While the battery does provide charge to start is your vehicle and run your electrical systems, the alternator is actually the component that keeps your battery charged while your car is running. Without a working alternator, you will find yourself with a vehicle that only runs for a short amount of time and then shuts off on you.  While your vehicle is running, your alternator is essential recycling power and charging the battery. The alternator is located in the engine compartment and is a part of the starting and charging systems. If your alternator is working as it should, you will notice one or more of the following symptoms:  Battery warning light has turned on Dead battery Battery starts but doesn't hold charge and shuts off mid-drive Dim interior lights Problems with electrical components such as power windows, radio, etc.  ... read more

If you're a parent of a teenage driver who is just starting out, you may feel anxious or worried every time you know that your child is behind the wheel. You may wonder, have I done enough to prepare them to drive safely and smartly? There are always risk factors involved when a new driver gets on the road, but preparing them as much as possible will give you more ease as a parent of teen behind the wheel.  Here are some tips for how you can help your teenager be a better driver:  Set an example for your teen. Believe it or not, many teenagers will repeat their parent's bad driving habits because they've learned them from seeing you drive throughout the years. Set an example by following the speed limit, driving safely, following traffic laws, and always wearing your seatbelt.  Try to limit the amount of time your teenager drives at night, if possible. Driving at night is harder and less visible, so getting them better at day driving before being allowed t ... read more

It’s that time of the season when we start thinking about what changes or resolutions we plan to make for the upcoming year. 2019 has ended and we all hope that 2020 will bring us health and good fortune. Many people will think about what resolutions to make such as going to the gym more often, eating healthier, and waking up earlier. These are all fantastic resolutions, but have you thought about any changes you will be making when it comes to your car?  Nobody is a perfect vehicle owner, but there are many ways in which the regular car driver can not only take better care of their vehicle but save money on car repairs in the new year. It is a great idea to think of a vehicle resolution that you can make going into 2020 that will help you protect your car investment and save you money on repairs. Here are some of our top vehicle changes to make for 2020: Try to keep your car clean and free of garbage Clean out your trunk - it will give you much better fuel efficiency Ha ... read more

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Woodie's Auto Service & Repair Centers! We hope that you had a wonderful holiday with friends and family. With all the holidays comes lots of travel, so if you are planning a road trip in the near future, we recommend that you check off some important travel measures before you hit the road.  Be sure to have your vehicle inspected by the experts here at Woodie's Auto Service before you hit the road. You never want to be caught in a situation where you are stuck without a working vehicle, so guaranteeing that your vehicle is ready for any road trip will keep your family safe and bring you peace of mind on the road.    Pack ample blankets and coats for the road to keep warm if you’re traveling in the cold this winter.    Have an emergency kit on hand in your trunk to help out in cases of emergencies. Some things to make sure you have with you include a spare tire, jack, wrench, flashlight, flar ... read more

What is defensive driving? Defensive driving is just another term for driving alert and safe on the road. Especially if you are driving during heavy traffic hours, defensive driving is a great way to protect yourself from accidents by being aware of surrounding cars. Before you even get on the road, planning your trip and understanding the weather and road conditions is the first step in defensive driving. Here are some other ways to practice defensive driving:  Check your mirrors every 5 minutes or so and always be aware of vehicles around you.   Be courteous and allow other vehicles attempting to switch lanes to have the right away. Switching lanes in traffic can be dangerous and trying to fight others on switching lanes puts you at risk for an accident if the other car doesn’t see you.    Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, just in case you need to brake quickly.   Be wary of aggressive drivers who may not be p ... read more

The head gasket is one of those terms that many of us have probably heard of, but don't quite understand. The head gasket is the block that is located between the engine block and the cylinder head. This part has a tough job because it is constantly put under high pressure and high temperatures. If your head gasket is blown, this is another way of saying that your head gasket has a leak.  A head gasket leak basically means that it is allowing coolant to leak out of the engine or it could mean that coolant is getting into the cylinder. When you continue to drive with a blown head gasket, the coolant and exhaust gases are going places that they shouldn't and this will start to cause engine metal and parts to warp and wear significantly. Leaking coolant can cause a multitude of different issues, including causing low coolant levels which can cause engine overheating and warping, damage your spark plugs, cause issues with the motor, rust piston rings and cylinder walls ... read more

Traveling by car is a great and inexpensive way to go on vacation or visit family or friends. Many people are opting for a car ride rather than a flight, because it's cheaper and less restrictive in terms of what you bring along. If you are planning a trip in the near future in your vehicle, check out the car travel tips listed below to help you be prepared for anything on the road:  Take an extra car key. Keys can easily be lost or left behind, and having an extra key will be a lifesaving in this instance.  Bring an actual paper map with you, just in case you don't have service or your GPS fails.  If you're bringing a trailer or hitch, make sure that it is installed to regulations and that all lights are working properly.  Have your vehicle inspected before you hit the road to ensure that all is in proper working order Make sure you have driving arrangements planned so that one driver doesn't get stuck behind the wheel for an extended period of ... read more

Noisy brakes are not only annoying, but can also be a cause for concern depending on the severity of the noise and when it occurs. Brake squeal is is caused by high frequency vibration, which can be caused by vibrations between the pads and rotors, the pads and calipers, or the calipers and their mounts.  Brake noise can be worrisome for some people, because they immediately believe that something must be wrong with their vehicle. Noise may indicate trouble, but the only way to know for sure is to have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes and determine the culprit of the noises.  If nothing is really wrong in terms of brake performance, then your trusted mechanic can still make a few adjustments to certain parts to try and eliminate the squealing noise. We recommend bringing your vehicle into our shop if you're concerned about any noises and our experts will determine the best solution for you. 

Summer is notorious for high gas prices, and if you’re noticing that you have been spending much more on gas lately, it may be time to adjust your driving habits and make some changes. Although each tip for saving money on fuel has a small effect, making multiple changes can actually help keep money in your wallet when it comes to buying fuel.  Here are our top tips for saving money on fuel this summer:  Driving safer and smoother. If you are constantly hitting the gas pedal, slamming on your brakes, or driving fast - you are using up more fuel than needed. By adjusting your driving habits, such as driving at the speed limit and allowing yourself plenty of time to brake, you’ll end up using less gas and saving yourself some cash. Use the right fuel grade. Check your owner’s manual to make sure that your vehicle is getting the right grade of fuel at the pump. You may have been pumping premium in your car when you actually don’t need it.  Lighte ... read more

Your vehicle’s tires are an extremely important safety feature of your vehicle. They are the only component between your car and the road, and help ensure that you are able to accelerate, stop, and turn successfully and safely. Poor tires can cause a number of different issues, ranging from lack of control to tire blowouts. Good tire maintenance will not only protect you on the road, but will also save you money on new tires throughout the years.  A commonly overlooked tire service is proper tire pressure. When your tires are low in pressure, excessive tire wear can occur and blow outs can happen. It isn’t safe to drive with low tire pressure and it is a very easy fix. You can usually do this yourself at your local gas station that provides free air.  If your tires aren’t aligned or balanced properly, excessive wear could be occurring that is severely affecting the overall lifespan of your tires. An alignment and balance is usually required every 6,000 mil ... read more