One Stop Auto, Baltimore's Best Auto Care

Call 410.889.8888 or Toll Free at 1.866.889.4518
Located at: 3413-29 Greenmount Ave. Balto. MD 21218

THE TOP TEN WORST THINGS YOU CAN DO TO YOUR CAR

WORST THING #1 DRIVE YOUR CAR WHEN IT'S OVERHEATING.
If your car overheats, DO NOT attempt to drive it to a repair shop. Stop the car as soon as you safely can and have it towed. Most cards today have engines that are at least partially made of aluminum which cannot dissipate great amounts of heat. Driving on an overheated car can blow a head gasket, or crack an engine or head, both very expensive repairs. If you must drive the car because you are in an unsafe situation, turn on your heater. This will allow additional cool fluid to enter your cooling system, lowering the fluid temperature and perhaps giving you a few moments more to get to safety.

WORST THING #2 LET YOUR FRIEND GIVE YOU CAR A "HOT SHOT"

The days of giving a friend a hot shot are over. The sophisticated computer and electrical systems found on newer cars can be substantially damaged by a reverse volt spike, causing damage to the car giving the hot shot.

WORST THING #3 USE THE WRONG FLUID

All power steering fluids and brake fluids are not created equal. Some cars, such as Audi and Honda require special power steering fluid. Using the wrong power steering fluid can ruin power steering pump and the rack and pinion. Some cars require brake fluid with a higher boiling temperature. Please ask your One Stop service advisor which brake fluid your car takes. Also, if any fluid besides brake fluid is put in the hydraulic brake system, this creates an extremely dangerous situation in which you can lose all your braking power. Do not drive the car. Immediately contact your One Stop representative.

WORST THING #4 IGNORE THAT CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING ON FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CARS

That noise usually indicates that the joint on your axle is worn out. Ignoring that noise will require at least a tow and may cause substantial damage to your transmission.

WORST THING #5 START YOUR CAR WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON

Air conditioning systems should be turned off at least 2 minutes before turning your vehicle off. This allows the pressure in the system to drain, preventing constant pressure which will cause premature failure. Also, never start a vehicle with the air conditioning on. You should also let your air conditioning system run a few minutes each month throughout the year to lubricate the seals and rubber components.

WORST THING #6 IGNORE ANTIFREEZE OR FLUID LOSS

If you are constantly adding antifreeze to your cooling system and not seeing any leaks, you may have a bad head gasket. A bad head gasket can allow antifreeze and oil to mix and contaminate each other's systems. Driving with this situation can quickly damage the internal components of your engine.

WORST THING #7 LET A BAD AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SIT OVER THE WINTER

Often people delay repairing a leaking A/C system late in the summer because they "don't need it." This delay will allow contaminants (dirt and moisture) to get into the small lubrication channels of the A/C system, especially in the compressor, thereby turning a small repair into a very expensive one.

WORST THING #8 DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO A STARTER NOISE.

That buzzy starter noise is telling you that the starter drive on the starter is bad. Ignoring that noise will cause the teeth on the starter to ruin the teeth on the transmission flywheel. Flywheel replacement is expensive because the transmission has to be removed.

WORST THING #9 ADD COLD WATER OR ANTIFREEZE TO A "HOT" CAR WHEN THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING

Doing so will allow "cold" liquid to sit in the engine. That dramatic change in temperature can cause the engine to crack.

WORST THING #10 DON'T REPLACE YOUR TIMING BELT AT THE RECOMMENDED MILEAGE

Some vehicles have "interference" engines. When a timing belt breaks on an "interference" engine, it usually bends the valves in the engine, causing expensive engine repairs.

Call One Stop Auto at: 410.889.8888
or Toll Free at 1.866.889.4518