Spring is Here: Is Your A/C Working?

 

Most car owners don't service their air conditioning until after it fails. Maintaining your vehicle air conditioning system means that you always have enough refrigerant to properly do the job. Small leaks in the air conditioning system allow the refrigerant to escape and the system can't cool the air as well.

Along with the refrigerant, a special oil circulates in the system. The oil lubricates air conditioning components and keeps the seals resilient. Low refrigerant and lubricating oil means that the air conditioning parts will wear out prematurely, and we all know that air conditioning repairs can be costly.

Air conditioning service at Petty Motorworks starts with a visual inspection of the components for signs of damage or leaks. The compressor is driven by a belt from the engine, most often the serpentine belt, so it's inspected for cracks or wear.

The air conditioning compressor and other components are checked for proper operation by your Petty Motorworks service advisor. Then comes the leak test. If a leak is detected, often in a hose or connection, it's repaired and the vehicle system is retested. Your Petty Motorworks technician will also perform a temperature drop test.

If needed, the old refrigerant is evacuated and the system is recharged with clean, fresh refrigerant. A final test insures that the air conditioner is working, and you're on your way.

How often this should be done varies from vehicle to vehicle. Your vehicle owner's manual will have the manufacturer's recommendation and, of course, your friendly and knowledgeable Petty Motorworks service advisor can tell you. It's typically every two years.

Give us a call have your air conditioning inspection done BEFORE the weather gets too hot.

Petty Motorworks LLC

462 ROUTE 9

WARETOWN, NJ 08758

www.pettymotorworks.com

Will Proper Auto Maintenance Really Save Gas?

When it comes to reduced fuel economy, there are two culprits: increased friction and inefficient fuel combustion. That means that anything you can do to decrease friction and increase the efficiency of your engine will translate to savings on fuel. 

Friction increases the amount of energy it takes to move something. So if we can reduce friction, we can decrease the amount of fuel it takes to run our vehicles. Engine oil is usually at the heart of friction problems in an engine. Too little oil means parts are not getting lubricated, which increases friction and dirty oil doesn't lubricate as well as clean oil. So one secret to good fuel economy is to stay on top of oil changes. Don't skip them and don't procrastinate. The same auto advice applies to transmission fluid. Keep it full and keep it clean, and your vehicle will run with less friction and better .

If your tires are underinflated, it increases the friction between the tire and the road. Again, there is increased drag, and it takes more fuel to move your vehicle. You should check their tire pressure every month and keep your tires properly inflated.

Alignment and brake problems can also increase friction. Besides saving fuel, keeping these systems in good repair has the added benefit of saving you on tires and brake pads. These items wear out more quickly when the alignment is off or when the brake system isn't in good working order. Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Petty Motorworks service advisor.

The second culprit that stealthily steals our fuel economy is inefficient fuel combustion, which depends on the engine getting the right amount of clean fuel to the right place with the right pressure at the right time in the right pattern. The key to peak engine performance is to keep the fuel system clean. Varnish and gum can build up in a fuel system, which will interfere with the fuel injectors. The fuel injectors are responsible for all those “rights” we spoke of. If they're dirty, amounts, timing, pressure and spray patterns can all get out of whack. The result? Reduced fuel economy. A fuel system cleaning at Petty Motorworks can get your injectors back on track, improving performance and efficiency.

There are a few other maintenance items that can improve your fuel economy. One is to replace your PCV valve when it gets sticky. This valve allows unburned fuel in your engine exhaust to return to the engine. We can also replace worn spark plugs and dirty fuel filters. A well-maintained vehicle will require fewer repairs and save money at the gas pumps.

Petty Motorworks LLC

462 ROUTE 9

WARETOWN, NJ 08758

(609) 339-2939

www.pettymotorworks.com

Q&A: When do I need to get my car's battery replaced?

 

 

All batteries wear out and need to be replaced – but some are replaced before their time.

Look, if your battery is dying and you need a jump-start, it could very well be that you have a bad battery. But drivers should have Petty Motorworks test the battery first to see if it's actually bad. The problem could be parasitic drain or a bad alternator that's not properly charging your battery.

And drivers in this situation also need to have their service advisor check their alternator and have it tested. A surprisingly high percentage of “bad” alternators brought into Petty Motorworks are actually just fine: the problem is a worn serpentine belt and/or belt tensioner. If the belt is slipping, it's not spinning the alternator properly so it can't fully charge the battery.

Hopefully, you can see that a dead battery can be the result of a chain of events: a worn serpentine belt, a worn belt tensioner, a bad alternator or a bad battery. If you don't check the belt, tensioner and alternator, you can just end up replacing batteries that are still good. Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable pros at Petty Motorworks.

That brings us back full circle to when batteries do fail. There's a chemical cycle that takes place inside your battery: the battery is discharged when you start the vehicle and is recharged by the alternator when you drive. Short trips around the area with frequent stops and starts may mean that your battery is never fully recharged. When a battery isn't fully charged, parts of the battery harden and are no longer available to “store” electricity. Over time, your battery just can't hold enough charge for the needs of your vehicle. This is demanding on your alternator as it tries to keep up, causing it to wear out prematurely.

Batteries last longer in colder climates and wear out faster in warmer climates. We want to remind drivers that, on average, 70% of batteries fail within four years. Many NJ automotive experts recommend replacing your battery every five years. This will reduce the chances of being stranded on a local street with a dead battery as well as prevent undue wear on your alternator.

Stop by Petty Motorworks on National Battery Day (February 18th 2026) for a free battery check. We are here to from 9-5, closed for lunch between 12-1. 

 

Petty Motorworks LLC
462 ROUTE 9
WARETOWN, NJ 08758
(609) 339-2939
www.pettymotorworks.com

 

Auto Repair Ethics

 

     Automotive Ethics  

    We're going to be talking about the ethics of automotive repair. Unfortunately, every profession has some bad actors that hurt the reputation of everyone else. It's no different in our area.

 

    In the automotive world, industry associations and NJ professional licensing organizations are very committed to high ethical standards.Yet some people are still uncomfortable with automotive service and repair.

 

    If we understand what's recommended and the benefits of taking care of the work – and the pitfalls of putting it off – we'll have more trust in the recommendation. So communication is key. It's like going to the doctor. If she's using medical jargon and takes a lot of basic medical knowledge for granted, we have a hard time following her train of thought. We understand It can be like that with your service advisor at Petty Motorworks, too. He's so familiar with all things automotive, he may forget you don't know a PCV from an EGT.

 

    If you don't understand what your doctor's talking about: ask some questions. If you don't understand what your automotive advisor at Petty Motorworks is talking about: ask some questions.

 

    Let's go back to those ethical standards. When we hear a repair recommendation, we always ask ourselves, "Is this really necessary?" Well, here's the industry standard:

 

If one of our auto technicians tells you that a repair or replacement is required, it must meet one of the following criteria:

1. The part no longer performs its intended purpose

2. The part does not meet a design specification

3. The part is missing

 

    For example, it you take your car in for a grinding noise when you step on the brakes, you may just think you need new brake pads. After the inspection, the technician says that you have a cracked rotor and need to replace it. If you tried to get him to just put new pads on, he would say that if you didn't want to replace the rotor, he would ethically have to refuse the repair. To just put pads on a cracked rotor would have been very wrong. The brakes could've failed at anytime: they needed to be repaired – not just have a band-aid slapped on them.

 

Now, looking at something not so serious, Petty Motorworks may suggest repair or replacement:

1. If the part is close to the end of its useful life – just above discard specifications or likely to fail soon

2. To address a customer need or request – like for better ride or increased performance

3. To comply with maintenance recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer

4. Based on the technician's informed experience

 

    Of course, Petty Motorworks has the burden of making ethical recommendations and properly educating their customers. For the customer, if you are uncomfortable with a recommendation, ask some questions. More information is always a good thing.

 

Petty Motorworks LLC
462 ROUTE 9
WARETOWN, NJ 08758

 

 

 

 

 

We encountered a strange hopping noise in this Chrysler...and got an adorable surprise.

 

Winter Car Care Checklist

 

Things to Watch Out for in Winter (featuring my beloved old shop dog, Rudy)

 

No doubt about it, winter driving in cold climates presents challenges that warmer weather doesn't. So here are a few things to pay attention to when it comes to your vehicle and winter.

 

 1. Coolant levels. We think of coolant as anti-freeze in winter, but what that liquid in the radiator does is cool down your heat-generating engine. It's important that your coolant doesn't freeze in sub-freezing temperatures, so make sure you have your coolant levels checked and that you have the correct water/coolant mix. By the way, the "coolant" is also responsible for transferring heat from your engine to warm the cabin.

 

2. Windshield wipers and washer fluid. You have to be able to clear your windshield so you can see things in inclement weather. Make sure your windshield washer reservoir is filled with fluid that is designed to stay liquid in frigid weather and won't freeze on contact with the glass. Special winter wiper blades can also help you see.

 

3. Tire pressure and tread. When the temperatures plummet, so does the air pressure in your tires. Make sure they are inflated properly to the manufacturer's recommended pressure. You also need enough tread, so have the depth checked to make sure it meets the manufacturer's specifications as well as any local regulations.

 

4. Proper engine oil. You've probably seen those numbers on the side of engine oil containers but maybe didn't know what they meant. The manufacturer has specified oil characteristics for your vehicle: the correct oil will protect your engine in cold conditions – using the wrong oil specifications can result in engine damage.

 

One of our Service Advisors will be able to help suggest options for each of these four winter driving checklist items. The better prepared your vehicle is to deal with the snow and cold, the better your vehicle will run and the safer you and your family will be.

 

Tom Petty 

Petty Motorworks LLC

462 ROUTE 9

WARETOWN, NJ 08758

 

Winter Happenings at Petty Motorworks

 

 

Petty Motorworks Family,

 Happy holidays! This season always brings to the forefront our gratitude for the family we have built at Petty Motorworks. We are extremely grateful for our privilege in serving you with trust and honesty. As a way of giving back, we have a few deals and events we want to inform you about:

New Year Giveaway 

All new and existing customers are welcome to fill out a ticket at the front desk- no purchase necessary. Winners will be drawn by random selection on January 1st, 2026. Visit our Facebook page for more information.

Gift Certificates are Now Available
 

Gift peace of mind to your loved ones with our Petty Motorworks Gift Certificates

 We are now offering $100 gift certificates, applicable to purchases at Petty Motorworks. Ask the front desk for purchase.

 

 

 

Waretown Holiday Light Spectacular 

December 12th-20th from 6-9:30PM at Corliss Park Lake! We love attending the drive-thru Holiday Light Spectacular each year. The $20 admission goes to the Waretown Volunteer Fire Co. A perfect experience for adults and children of all ages. Follow this link for more information.

This Month Only

Free alignment with a purchase of four tires and our tire protection package.

Now until the end of the year, we are offering a free alignment with the purchase of four tires and our tire protection package. All major brands. Protection package includes:

- Free tire rotations for life of tire

- Free tire repairs

- Prorated tire replacement in the event a repair cannot be made

Tires must be serviced at Petty Motorworks LLC.

 

Did you know we have a customer loyalty program? 

 

 Earn 3% on future sales with our customer loyalty program. This is money in your pocket that adds up quickly! Sign up here.