White Horse Auto
Service & Repairs
856-767-5089
321 White Horse Pike Hammonton, New Jersey 08037
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Tire Sale
Posted on January 31, 2020 at 2:11 PM |
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Need tires for your car before the bad weather hits? Give us a call today for a quote on the new Starfire Solarus AS all season tire. The Solarus AS offers great all season performance at a very affordable price. |
Know your tires age, your safety depends on it.
Posted on May 14, 2019 at 12:12 PM |
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All tires sold in the US must have a DOT (Department of
Transportation) number stamped on the sidewall. Most people pay no
attention to this and are just happy to have tires with descent
safe tread on their cars, but there is very important information
contained in this number. The plant that made them, size,
manufacture and brand are coded in the first grouping of numbers. Most
important to the consumer is the
last four digits of the number that identify the date of
manufacture. Take note the the complete DOT number normally 10-12
digits is only engraved on one side of the tire, the other side will be
lacking date coding. Why is it so important to know the date? Because
tires age out and must be replaced based not only on wear but their age
as well. Depending on the source you look at recommended age required
replacement ranges 6-10 years. Dry rotted and cracked tread and
sidewalls are one sign a tire is starting to age out. There is no
federal law requiring tire replacement at a specified age, but most
shops will refuse to mount a tire that is 10 or more years old and will
start to recommend your tires be replaced if there are signs of dry
rotting or they are 6 plus years old. The environment and care tires
are subjected to also will influence their useful life span, I have
replaced tires less than three years old due to sever dry rotting.
Remember to check the date code on new tires you are purchasing because they may have been on the rack at the tire store for years
before they are ever sold. Always purchase tires with the latest
date code possible. Have your tires checked regularly at oil change time
for condition issues of any kind and replace them before they leave you
stranded or cause a more serious problem. |
Electric Cars
Posted on May 13, 2019 at 12:08 PM |
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Is it time to buy an electric car? Many people think electric cars are the future of the automotive industry. There is no doubt they have come a long way in the last ten years. The first modern era electrics were not much of advancement over the ones sold 100 years ago, low range, low performance and very expensive to purchase. Tesla changed all that and proved electrics can out perform their ice (internal combustion engine) counterparts in almost every way and be very desirable at the same time. Other new full electric car companies are about to release their vehicles and are taking orders now such as Rivian. Ford and GM have made new resent electric car production announcements with Ford making a 500 million dollar investment in Rivian. Volvo has started an all electric car division called Polestar. GM , Ford, Nissan, BMW, VW, Audi, Hyundai, Fiat all have EV's available now and many more are planed in the near future. So, what are the pros and cons of electric car ownership and are they the right fit for you. Lets start with the most common fears most people have when they consider an electric car purchase. The biggest fear is range anxiety, can an electric car fit my daily use without leaving me stranded? Where do I charge? How long does it take to charge? Can I take long trips? Even some of the lowest range EVs will work for most people. The 2019 Nissan Leaf 40 KWH battery has a range of up to 150 miles, most people travel far less than that in their daily commute. Plug your car in at night and wake up to a full charge and go about your day, just think how nice it would be to never have to stop in to a gas station. There are now models of EVs with ranges of near 400 mile (Tesla Model X long range) with new ones coming with 500 mile ranges. Fast charging is available with most EVs that have liquid cooled battery packs. Tesla states under 30 minute charge to 80% battery capacity making long trips possible. Tesla has it's own supercharge network that is expanding everyday. Many other charging options are out there as well. Websites like A better route planner (https://abetterrouteplanner.com/) will make your trips more stress free. What are the advantages to going electric? How about greatly reduced maintenance. No more oil changes, timing belt services, tune ups. No more Check Engine Lights, no exhaust system or catalytic converts to fail. Brakes last many times longer due to regenerative braking, the list does on. Of course many will argue that the batteries will eventually need to be replaced and they will, but with what you save over the years in maintenance costs over an ice car will outweigh that. The motors in a Tesla a rated at one million miles of service, even a well cared for Toyota can't beat that. Then there is the performance of EVs. With full toque available from a dead start Evs are extremely quick, quicker than any muscle car you can think of. Over the air updates will keep a Tesla up to date with any new software advancements always improving performance and safety. There is also the safety factor, Tesla claims very high NHTSA ratings. Judge for yourself see https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/nhtsa-rejects-tesla-safety-claims/ So when it comes time for your next new car purchase consider going electric. They aren't just golf carts anymore. |
New New Jersey Inspection rules
Posted on May 16, 2017 at 1:46 PM |
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New NJ inspection rules Are you a vehicle owner in the state of NJ? New Jersey no longer checks
basic safety items during the biennial inspection of passenger
vehicles. Vehicles that are from MY 1995 and older with a gross vehicle weight
of less than 8500 lbs. now are no long required to be inspected at all. It is
now up to you as the vehicle owner to properly maintain all of your safety and
emission components on your car. This is a quote directly from the NJ MVC
website. “Vehicle owners are still required to maintain all safety and emissions
equipment and may be at any time be cited for malfunctioning or missing required
equipment”. Here are a few tips to help you maintain a safe car and help reduce the
chance of getting a citation from your local friendly law enforcement officer.
Frequently check all exterior lighting. Head and tail lights, turn signals,
marker lights and don’t forget the often overlooked rear license plate
light. Tire pressures should be check at least twice a month. Don’t rely on the
Tire Pressure Monitoring light only (For cars equipped with TPMS warning
lights). Use an accurate gauge, not the one on the air pump. Tire wear. Tires may be considered for replacement between 4 and 5 /32”
and require replacement at 2/32”. Also look for signs of dry rotting of the
rubber. Tires do go bad over time just from age. Consider replacing tires that
are more than six years old even if remaining tread is good. If you are
unsure of the tires age have your locale tire expert check the date code to see
when they were produced. Check all fluids at least once a month. Oil, coolant, brake fluid, power
steering and washer fluids are all important for your safety and your cars long
life. See your owner’s manual if you are unsure of how to check any level and
what type of fluids are needed for your car. Low brake fluid may indicate that it’s time to have your brakes inspected.
As the brake pads wear on a disc brake system the fluid in the brake reservoir
will drop down as the caliper pistons move out to take up the place of the worn
pads, this will happen gradually with normal wear. If you are adding fluid
frequently you may have a hydraulic leak and will require immediate attention.
If you notice any unusual noises, vibrations or pulling to one side or the other
during braking it is also time to have your brakes looked at. Keep an eye on dash warning lights and gauges. If your car is equipped with
gauges get to know were the normal range is so you will be well informed when
something does go wrong. Don’t ignore the Check Engine Light, it can be trying
to tell you anything from a minor emissions system malfunction like a loose gas
cap to something more severe that can cause farther engine damage. Don't forget those wiper blades. Replace them at least once a year. This will prevent poor visibility and keep your windshield from getting damaged. Remember as a New Jersey motorist it is up to you to be sure your car is
safe for public roads. Don’t take this responsibility lightly, your safety and
the safety of fellow driver’s is in your hands. |
When is it time for a new car?
Posted on December 26, 2015 at 9:18 AM |
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One question that comes up repeatedly in the car repair business is “ Do
you think it’s time for a new car?” This question usually comes up just after
someone has spent a good chunk of money on a large repair and now is faced with
another looming expensive repair. The thought of continuously dumping money
into an older car month after month gets people thinking a new car payment may
be less in the long run and I would have a new car with no issues and a
warrantee. With proper maintenance and repairs when needed almost any car can
be kept on the road for many many years. So what would be the killer failure
that would render your car up for replacement? One thought comes to mind and
that is rust. Any rust that compromises the overall structure of the vehicle
will make it unsafe to drive and much less safe in a crash as the structure will
not protect the passengers as the engineers intended. Rust repair when done
correctly is very expensive and can quickly overtake the value of the car
itself. Replacement or rebuilds of large components like the engine and
transmission can also be very expensive. The bottom line here is what works
best for you financially. Remember to always do all of the service at the
intervals mapped out in your owner’s manual to get the longest life possible out
of you vehicle in the first place. Never put off servicing main safety items
like tires, brakes and suspension. It doesn’t make much sense to compromise
your safety on the road to save a few bucks. One of the main advantages to
going with a new or newer model vehicles is advanced design. Newer cars are
cleaner, safer and more efficient with every passing model year, interior
comfort and convenience has also improved vastly over the past few years. On
the other hand there is always a certain amount of pride in ownership of an
older car that you maintained and cared for decades, some even consider an old
car part of the family. So what’s it going to be? New or stick with the old
car? , it’s up to you. |
Tomorrow's collector cars
Posted on April 27, 2015 at 1:27 PM |
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Read Full Post »
Product review
Posted on January 30, 2015 at 1:14 PM |
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Common repair complaints
Posted on December 10, 2014 at 1:38 PM |
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Common automotive repair complaints. Today we will touch upon some common complaints that will have the customer
bring the car in for repairs and their most likely causes. These are the types of
complaints that many times have the customer trying to imitate the noise when
explaining what they want check, this can be quit entertaining at
times. Remember a complete inspection of your car will be needed to verify the
exact cause of your complaint. This list is just intended to give some insight
on the common causes of these problems. 1. Noises from suspension. Suspension noises are mostly noticeable when
going over bumps. One of the most common is a broken or worn anti- sway bar link
pin. Sometimes the sway bar frame mount bushings also fail. Both will produce a
rattle of clunk noise. Broken springs, worn out control arm bushings, worn
shocks and struts are also high on the list of probable suspects when looking
for suspension noises. 2. Rumble noise that changes with your speed. An easy check here that you
can do yourself is check tire ware. You are looking for a cupped rough
ware pattern on the tread of the tires. Tire cupping can be caused by worn
struts and shocks, but most likely it’s from poor tire design. Have your
suspension checked as well as the alignment. If all is well suspect poor tire
design. Bad wheel bearings can sound very much like cupped tires, this is why you
should eliminate the tires first as a potential cause of this kind of
noise. Does the rumble noise change pitch or get a lot quieter when turning left
or right? If so, a closer look at the bearings are in order. Weight transfer of
the car during turning or pitching the car side to side will make the loaded
side (the one on the outside of the turn) noisier if it’s the culprit. 3. Rattling or buzzing noise from under the car. This one will change or go
away as you rev the engine in neutral. Take a look at your exhaust heat shields.
Most of the time you will find one that the mounts or clamps have rusted out on
and the tin shield is now just hanging on the pipe or converter just waiting to
drive you nuts. Most techs will just cut them off to eliminate this annoyance.
These shields should be kept in place if at all possible as they do serve a
purpose. They don’t just shield the surrounding areas from the exhaust’s heat,
they also are intended to keep the heat in allowing the converter to reach light
off (operating temp) faster lowering cold start emissions. 4. Grinding or rubbing noise. If you hear a grinding noise when you apply
the brakes you have worn the pads down to the metal backing of the pads and
require brake service immediately. You would think this is a no brainer, but I
see brakes worn through to the middle vented part of the brake rotor more than
enough times to wonder how such a noise can be ignored. If you have grinding
brakes don’t put off a brake inspection any longer! A squeak on the other hand
may be an indication you have worn brake hardware of just glazed pads, squeaks
are almost normal on some cars and are very difficult if not impossible to
completely eliminate. Some brake pads have a ware indicator built into them that
will cause a squeak when the brakes are applied to warn you that you are in need
of service very soon. Remember, when in doubt have your brake system inspected.
5. Fluid leaks. Leaks when small can be very hard to locate. If you think
your engine is leaking something, but unsure of what it can be, start by
identifying what fluid it is. Place some white or light colored paper or
cardboard under the car overnight. Once the car makes it’s deposits on the paper
look at the color of the fluid. Green, yellow or orange can be coolant. Brown or
black is oil and red is transmission fluid. Also take note of the location of
the deposits so you can get a general idea of the location of the leak. |
Some overlooked general maintenance tips
Posted on October 7, 2014 at 10:18 AM |
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Some overlooked general maintenance 1. Brake flush. Your brake system is one of the most important safety
features of your car, but also has one of the most overlook maintenance items on
the car. The brake fluid itself. Everyone knows to periodically have the brakes
check for wear, but did you know the brake fluid must be changed too. All non
silicone brake fluids like DOT 3 & 4 are hydroscopic and absorbed moisture.
Over time this will lower the boiling point and effectiveness of the fluid. Most
manufacturers recommend changing the fluid every two years. 2. Gear oil. If you own a rear wheel drive car or truck or a four wheel
drive vehicle your differential level should be check at major service intervals
to ensure it’s not low. Always top up with the recommended fluid for your car.
Look for leaking axle seals if the fluid is low. Check your owner’s manual to
see if the manufacturer recommends changing the fluid at a certain mileage.
3. Manual transmission fluid. Most people know they must service their
automatic transmission fluid, but many forget about the fluid in their manual
transmission. Once again it’s very important to check the manufacture’s
maintenance schedule to see if there is a change interval on the trans fluid as
well as the type of fluid to be put in. 4. Lighting. On todays cars with composite headlights it’s not good enough
to just check that the bulbs work, you also have to make sure the plastic lenses
are not cloudy to the point hardly any light is getting out. Cloudy headlight
lenses will greatly reduce the distance you will see at night. There are many
commercially available headlight restore kits on the market and most do a good
job of returning the lights back to working condition. If your on a budget and
don’t want to spring for a restoring kit you can try some very light polishing
compound on a clean soft cloth. Try a small area first to make sure what your
using works safely before doing the entire light. This will clean the lenses
nicely, but does nothing to seal them as the restoring kits do, but it will get
you by for a while. |
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