No, you do not need to have it serviced at the dealer; in fact, it’s illegal for the dealer to even suggest such a thing. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, makes it illegal to even claim that your warranty is void or to deny coverage [...]
Every minute of every day, all across America, someone is walking into an auto repair shop with a stack of papers they printed from the internet, in an effort to prove what repairs their cars need. Service Technicians Know Best And every minute of every day, all across America, technicians are [...]
You walk out to your car, open the door, put the key in the ignition, and… nothing. The engine won’t crank at all. Your car won't start. Maybe you hear the starter solenoid click, but that’s about it. So you call a friend — or your auto club — and [...]
Once upon a time, if you were to need a coolant flush, that was normal and considered required maintenance. In fact, several manufacturers offered kits to let do-it-yourselfers flush their cars’ cooling systems themselves, right from an ordinary garden hose. Flushing Your Engine Coolant These days that old and dirty antifreeze is [...]
Brakes are a critical part of your driving safety, so if there’s a problem with your brakes, you need to know it. You might even be at a point where you need new brakes. Your Cottman center can help analyze your brakes and make sure they’re in like-new condition. Generally speaking, [...]
If you’re a longtime driver, chances are you’ve received recommendations for a service you never heard of before: a fuel system service. And, since you’ve never heard of it, you’re probably suspicious: Is this a real service or just another way for someone to separate your paycheck from your wallet? [...]
You’re driving down the road when all of a sudden the “Check Engine” light comes on. So you take it over to your nearby Cottman center and ask them to check it out. The technician comes out to your car, armed with an impressive-looking scan tool, plugs it into your [...]
You’re driving along and suddenly you notice a problem with your car. You’re going to need to take it in for service. Worse yet, you’re going to have to explain what’s wrong to the people at the repair shop. That’s okay: The folks at Cottman are professionals. Talking to you [...]
Whether gas prices are pushing $4 or dropping below $2, everyone wants to save a few bucks at the pump. And there are a lot of tips making the rounds to help you cut your fuel consumption. Unfortunately, many of them aren’t completely accurate. Fuel Economy Myths Here’s a list [...]
No matter how well you prepare for the unexpected, emergencies happen. The trick is to be prepared for them. Prepare Your Emergency Kit Here’s a list of 10 of the most important items you should have in your car emergency kit. Nearly all of them should be available at your [...]
