How much will this cost?: Why we can’t give an estimate over the phone

 

Imagine waking up one morning with a stomach ache. You pick up the phone, call the doctor’s office and say, “I’ve got a really bad tummy ache. How much will it cost to make me feel better?” Of course, you wouldn’t do that. You know that there could be a lot of reasons for your symptoms and that the doctor will have to examine you, ask some questions, and probably run some tests before she can tell you what’s wrong and give you treatment options.

This same scenario plays every day at auto repair facilities. When the cause of the concern isn’t obvious, the vehicle will need to undergo a diagnostic process. The typical vehicle has about 30,000 parts, including several networked computers and miles of wiring. Finding exactly what is wrong can be very complicated and take some time. The most experienced technicians at the shop are the ones that tackle the difficult diagnostic jobs. Once they have determined the cause of the problem, they can work out the plan for how to fix it and tell you how much it will cost.

When you look at it this way, it makes perfect sense that the Service Advisor cannot provide an estimate before the diagnosis is done. At Petty Motorworks we provide a free courtesy inspection on all vehicles. Consider this equivalent to a nurse checking your vital signs and doing a visual inspection of all your body systems. At this stage, we are able to determine if your car has any glaring issues that may change your decision about future repairs. For example, you wouldn’t want to spend money on an expensive repair if your car is reaching the end of its lifespan. If we see any serious issues we will keep you in the loop. Sometimes we are able to make a diagnosis during the courtesy inspection. Other times, we might have to do more digging. Once the diagnosis is made, we will reach out so you can approve our plan of action.

We know it can be frustrating when something is wrong with your car and you aren’t sure what is going to be involved in getting it fixed. We’ll do everything we can to help you through the process; communicating with you at each step along the way. We have highly trained diagnostic technicians and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to uncover the cause of your problems. We use quality replacement parts to help make sure you stay on the road after the repair is done. That’s our prescription for automotive peace of mind.

Petty Motorworks LLC

462 ROUTE 9

WARETOWN, NJ 08758

(609) 339-2939

www.pettymotorworks.com

All About Air Conditioning at Petty Motorworks

The refrigerant in the air conditioner contains a special oil that lubricates and cools the A/C parts. When enough refrigerant leaks out, your air conditioner still makes cold air, but the parts don’t have enough oil to protect them and they wear out faster than they should, so it’s important to service the air conditioner as recommended.

Replacing old refrigerant has another benefit: refrigerant tends to gather moisture and become corrosive. That causes leaks in the system which can be expensive to repair. Fresh refrigerant protects the air conditioning components and keeps the system operating at peak efficiency, so it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep you cool.

Even with regular service A/C parts can just wear out. Normal wear and tear eventually gets to all moving parts. Addressing early problems can save on more extensive repairs down the road. For instance, a common failure is the clutch that turns the compressor on and off. If you can take care of a bad A/C clutch when it first starts having problems, you may be able to save the compressor. Wait too long and you’ll have to replace both.

Check your owner’s manual or ask your service advisor for service recommendations. And if you’re hearing strange sounds when your air conditioning turns on, or if it just isn’t as cold as it used to be, have us give it the once over to see what it’ll take to keep you cool.

Give us a call

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

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

What does it mean when my tire pressure light is blinking?

"What does it mean when my tire pressure light is blinking?" is a common question we get at Petty Motorworks. Most modern vehicle are equipped with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS for short) and the tire pressure light is normally on because the vehicle has low pressure in one or more tires.   

When the light is flashing, usually when the vehicle is first started, it indicates a fault in the system.  Most commonly this is related to a failed sensor.  Each sensor has an non-serviceable battery and has a limited lifespan. Usually tire pressure sensors last for about 100,000 miles or 10 years but this may vary.  

In summary:

TPMS light is on steady - Check Tire Pressures before driving and stop into Petty Motorworks in Waretown and we will set your tire pressures for you. You may even have a Leaking Tire and may need a Tire Repair Near Me.

TPMS light is flashing - Check Tire Pressures before driving and call Petty Motorworks at 609-339-2939 and ask one of our helpful staff members to set up a reservation for testing.