Baltimore Auto Repair

I slid into a curb, now what do I do? If you have been unfortunate enough to slide into a curb, the first thing to check is the tire. You need to make sure it is safe to drive on. If you can drive your vehicle, see if there is a change in how it handles. Any change would indicate damage that needs to be checked by an ASE certified technician. Even slight damage will cause rapid tire wear and extremely poor handling, especially in wet conditions. A tire can wear so fast and cause a blowout, resulting in loss of control of your vehicle. When an alignment is performed, we make adjustments down to a 1/16th of an inch so any change can cause rapid tire wear. At Framerite Auto Repair we have been taking care of these situations for 67 years. Chances are we may have worked on your parents or grandparent’s car, as we hear this quite often. Give us a call and we will return your vehicle to safe and reliable driving again!  

Do you know if your tires will get you through the 6-12 inches of snow in the immediate forecast? If you don't know the answer you better find out. Winter weather is starting early early and slippery conditions can appear without warning. If your tires tread is too thin slipping and sliding is in your forecast. Check your tread depth with a quarter. If you can't see the top of George's head you should be alright. Personally I would not want to see his hairline on top of his head. You can also look between the tread bars for the wear indicator. The tread wear indicator is a small rubber bar that if near even with the remaining tread lets you know your tires need to be replaced. If you have any questions stop by for a quick inspection and we will show you what to look for. Here at Framerite Auto Repair we can take care of you and your vehicle to keep you safe for whatever Old Man Winter brings

  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

Should I be worried about my suspension with the condition of the streets in Baltimore? The answer is yes! Anywhere you travel the system that connects your wheels to your vehicle is your suspension. Every time you hit a pothole, a bump or an object in the road your suspension has to absorb that punishment.  As you can imagine, the suspension on your vehicle has lots of joints, bushings and pivot points that allow your wheels to move up and down and allow you to turn and steer. These parts include ball joints, tie rod ends, pitman and idler arms as well as many bushings. They simply wear out over time or become damaged due to the harshness they have to endure. As they wear handling and steering develop a loose feel and may include strange noises. Sometimes a loose or worn suspension part can put stress on another part causing premature failure. Usually the first sign of suspension problems is you will notice that your tires are wearing irregularly. If you feel the handling on your ... read more

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

Do you need brakes or wonder if you do?  Each year during the month of October, we participate in a program called Brakes for Breasts. Brakes for Breasts is a fundraising program dedicated to the development of a vaccine that prevents breast cancer.  Dr. Tuohy at the Cleveland Clinic has actually created a vaccine that has proved effective in laboratory animals in actually preventing breast cancer. Think about Polio, eradicated because of a vaccine, a distant memory for most generations. This is the same principle! Dr. Tuohy and his team are rounding the corner and are hoping to start Phase 1 trials in early 2020. 100% of the proceeds from the ‘Brakes for Breasts’ fundraiser goes directly to the Cleveland Clinic for research on the Breast Cancer Vaccine. This is a WIN WIN for you, because you receive a FREE brake inspection and if they are needed, we provide FREE brake pads or shoes, up to $125 val ... 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