Baltimore Auto Repair

          THE IMPORTANCE OF OIL CHANGES The invention of the automobile in the early 1900’s obviously changed the world in myriad ways, much like hundreds of other inventions that took place over the course of the 20th century.  The world instantly became smaller, and did again with the popularity of commercial air travel.  Americans would hit the open road hard over the next 100+ years.  The proliferation of the interstate highway system in the 1950’s increased road travel to such a degree that there was an explosion of industry-related businesses.  Thousands of gas stations popped up, as well as auto repair shops, auto body shops, car dealers, oil companies, etc.  Cars and trucks come in all shapes and sizes, colors, configurations, and have a wide variety of accessories.  The basic nature and structure of vehicles remains consistent, however.  They all have engines, transmissions, batteri ... read more

We are starting to see a mid 2000’s GM SUVs and trucks come in with the front sway bar bracket that is rusting away and becoming totally detached. When this happens and you are driving down the road, you hear a big clunking noise as you go over bumps. But the good news is that it can be fixed. It just takes a little while because you have to get a donor from the junkyard with a good bracket. This is because GM doesn't sell the part by itself. Once we do that and get it all back together, your vehicle is all back to whole again

  Should I have my engine oil changed at a quick lube shop? Do you want to see a first year medical student when you have a health problem? Many quick lube businesses employ people without a lot of experience in the industry. Your vehicle is probably the second largest investment you will  have besides your house. Do you want to trust it with someone in a hurry and with a lack of experience? Taking your vehicle to a trusted local garage with experienced technicians looking out for the long term benefit of you and your car is the best way. I don't know about you but I want a doctor to take their time with me to properly diagnose me and to locate any other problem I may have. Taking your vehicle to be serviced in a timely manner and giving the technician time to give your vehicle a physical inspection is the best way to have peace of mind for safe driving. At Framerite Auto Repair we employ technicians with many years of experience to give you confidence that you ... read more

Can the computer on my car make my air conditioner leak? The answer is yes. We recently had a 2017 Chevrolet Impala come in to check the A/C system. When connecting the gauge set we discovered no refrigerant in the system. We then added some to check for a leak and could actually hear the refrigerant escaping. Taking our refrigerant leak detector to find the source of the problem we found the evaporator core in the dash leaking profusely. Performing a Technical Service Bulletin search we discovered a recall #N182186880 for 2016-2018 Chevrolet Impala's. The bulletin explains that the program in the computer runs the A/C compressor too long causing ice to build up on the evaporator core. As the ice continues to expand it actually breaks the tubes causing the refrigerant leak. If you have one of these vehicles GM has extended the warranty for 6 years and or 72,000 miles to cover this situation. Not only is this a major repair as the entire dash has to be removed to ... read more

Dear friends and valued clients, At Framerite Auto Repair we are taking the coronavirus very seriously. We believe everybody has a role to play in mitigating this illness. Fortunately, we work in an industry the requires little to no human contact. We can achieve a “zero contact” transaction by use of a key drop, free pick up & delivery and payment over the phone. We are disinfecting all keys, door handles, steering wheels and shifter handles before and after service as our commitment to your safety remains our top priority. If you need any services or repairs to your vehicle please do not hesitate to text or call us

Can change be shocking to your radio? Yes! We had a 2011 Subaru Forester with a complaint that the radio did not work. First thing to check was the fuse that controls the power to the radio which was blown. We installed a new fuse and everything came back to life. But why did the fuse blow in the first place? After a short test drive the radio was not functioning again. The technician confirmed the fuse was blown again and the circuit remained a dead short. When looking over the wiring diagram we could separate the circuit in two halves. When we did this the radio side of the circuit still had the short. Tracing the wiring back to the radio we found no obvious wiring exposed. We removed the radio and the problem disappeared. Shaking the radio revealed the problem. The children had been inserting coins and a paper clip into the CD drive causing a short across the circuit board in the bottom of the radio. Once the coins & paper clip were removed everything is working properly. G ... read more

"What is that shaking when I am braking?" This vibration from your brakes can be very slight at high braking or just about take the steering wheel out of your hands when coming to a stop. All newer vehicles have front disc brakes and more manufacturers are switching to rear disc brakes instead of drum brakes. If you have ever had a bicycle with the hand brakes, there is a caliper that squeezes the pads on each side of the rim to stop. The disc brakes on your car are similar but the brake pads are squeezed against a metal disc (called a brake rotor) by a hydraulic caliper to stop. What causes that shaking while braking is uneven thickness of the rotor. Sometimes rotors can be resurfaced to make them straight and even. Many newer vehicles are using thinner and lighter rotors, with a different construction. Resurfacing rotors in this case can make them thinner then allowed by the manufacturer and require replacement. Sometimes rotors get thin from normal braking o ... read more

"Why do I smell gasoline when I am near my car?"  Have you ever had a strong whiff of gas and wondered if it's your car or somebody else's in the parking lot? You drive home and you may or may not get the odor of gas. The next morning you leave for work and there it is again. Now you are wondering what to do now. Check around your vehicle to see if there is a noticeable leak under the car. If not and the odor is strong enough towing it to the shop is recommended. Gasoline odors can be caused by a leak somewhere in the fuel evaporative emissions systems. Some possibilities include a rusted fuel line, fuel seeping by connections in the fuel system or an emissions system hose that has split open. Remember that gasoline fumes can be dangerous and a health hazard. Gasoline fumes can catch fire if exposed to a spark or flame. Whatever the cause give Framerite Auto Repair a call to fix the problem. Remember the fire risk is h ... read more

I just purchased a vehicle out of state and it was state inspected there, does that give me peace of mind the vehicle is good? The answer is no! Recently we have inspected vehicles with severe rust issues that were state inspected in Virginia and Pennsylvania. The purchasers of these vehicles were assured they were in good shape. To title the vehicle in Maryland it has to go through a much more rigorous inspection process. Evidently what passes in Virginia and Pennsylvania does not come close with what is acceptable in Maryland. The moral of the story is to have your vehicle looked at in a Maryland repair shop in order to give you a better understanding of what you are trying to purchase. We at Framerite Automotive can give you a proper evaluation before purchasing the vehicle. Remember, “Buyer Beware” should always be applied when purchasing any vehicle without having it looked at first

This was a blog post from a while ago but it bears reposting, especially while there is a rebate on Hankook tires. There are several ways to determine if you need new tires. One way is to insert a quarter upside down into the tire's tread. If you can see the top of Ole George's head then your tread is measuring 4/32 and the tire needs to be replaced. Another sign that you need new tires is the presence of grooves or cracks in the sidewall. Other indicators are blisters and bulges because they can quickly become the source of a dangerous blowout. In addition, feeling too much vibration when driving can be a sign of several issues. Your tires may need balancing or you may need an alignment. The vibration can actually be a sign of a problem with your tire. If you have any questions concerning your tires, or any other vehicle repair or maintenance issue, give us a call and our certified mechanics will be happy to answer your questions and advise you. #newtires #tiresnearme #tires ... read more