Vehicle Maintenance

  • What Are Your Gauges Telling You?

    gauges on a vehicle

    Gauges are your first, and often only, line of defense in catching a major problem before it’s too late. At Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, we know that sometimes a faulty gauge is overlooked when the truck is still running fine and there’s a busy day ahead. However, gauges are extremely important, and are typically easy to repair.

  • What Does a Spark Plug Do?

    spark plug

    Have you always wondered what a spark plug does? Our team here at Martin's Garage is here to help you out. It's simple in theory but does quite a lot of work for such a small piece of equipment. Your spark plug forces electricity to arc across a gap like a bolt of lightning at high voltage and fits into your engine's cylinder head, where it “sparks” to ignite the fuel and creates combustion within your engine. Without it, you wouldn't be able to drive your car or truck. 

  • What Does That Check Engine Light Mean?

    check engine light on dash image

    It’s a busy morning, you’ve finally gotten everyone where they need to be and you’re just pulling into the parking lot at work when your dash light starts glaring at you. Your check engine light shines bright, but you have no idea why. Whether you can tell a difference in the way your car, truck, or SUV is running, your car is trying to tell you something. At Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, PA, we can help!

  • What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Oil?

    sludge in the engine image

    At Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, PA, we recommend always making it a priority to change your oil on time. Here’s a look into why it’s so important, and what happens if you don’t keep up with oil changes.

    Sludge - If oil stays in an engine too long, sludge begins to build up anywhere oil can go. The oil absorbs tiny debris and contaminants, kind of like a liquid sponge - once it’s at capacity, that oil begins to stick, clog, and build up throughout the engine. Small veins that carry oil to components like actuators, turbos, and bearings will become blocked, starving critical components of oil and causing component or engine failure.

  • What is a Drive Axle?

    vehicle drive axle

    Do you hear a funny clicking sound when you turn the wheels of your vehicle? It could be your car or truck's CV or Drive Axle, and it may be in need of repair. Safety is the number one priority for our customers here at Martin's Garage, and it is our goal to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Driving around with a damaged CV Joint or Drive Axle problem can be extremely dangerous. The axle is a structural component that bears the weight of the vehicle, any cargo, and the acceleration forces between you and the ground. It is so important to have your vehicle inspected regularly by a trained automotive repair professional here at Martin's Garage to ensure its safety.

  • What Is a Shifter Bushing?

    gear shift

    Sometimes your car, truck, or SUV stops performing quite like it used to. At Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, we can fix that. A simple but common issue on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission is shifter bushing issues. Your shifter has a bushing on the end of it, where it connects to the actual transmission. Its purpose is to provide tight, smooth shifting. 

  • What Is A Short Throw Shifter

    mechanic

    At Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, routine maintenance and repair isn’t the only thing we do. For custom parts installation, you can also count on us. Common modification enthusiasts do is swapping to a short-throw shifter; but what actually is a short-throw shifter, and what does it do?

  • What Is a Transmission “Flush”?

    transmission fluid being poured into vehicle

    You’ve probably heard the term “transmission flush” before at some point in your automotive experience. But what exactly does it mean to have your transmission flushed, and why does it matter? Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, PA has the answers.

  • What Is Your Mechanic Looking for In a Used Car Inspection?

    mechanic doing an inspection

    At Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, PA, we know buying a used car, truck, or SUV can be a gamble. While there are no guarantees, there are key points of inspection that tell us a lot about the condition of a vehicle and how it has been maintained. There are some important points of the inspection we verify when checking out a used vehicle.

  • What It Means When We Say Ground Connection!

    testing battery

    At Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, we know that few problems are simultaneously as simple and confusing as a bad ground connection on your car, truck, or SUV. Here’s a look at some symptoms of a bad ground, and what you can do to correct it.

  • What to Know About Your Vehicle's Lights

    Vehicles driving on a highway with headlights on

    All the lights on your vehicle have an important job to do. Brake lights, tail lights, blinkers, reverse lights, and headlights are a crucial part of driving. Lights make you visible, make things visible to you, and allow you to communicate with other drivers. All of a vehicle’s lights make driving easier and safer, and all of them are important...not to mention legally required.

  • What to Look For When Buying a Vehicle

    man holding car keys

    In the market for a new car, truck, or SUV? Used cars aren’t always what they seem; here’s some advice from Martin's Garage in Shippensburg to make sure you get the used car of your dreams.

  • When is it Time to Test Your Vehicle's Battery?

    Mechanic testing a car's battery

    Chances are you don’t pay much attention to your vehicle’s battery until it dies, when you get to perform the dreary dual task of waiting for a jump while simultaneously calling for an appointment to get a new battery fitted. Of course, that’s if you’re sure it’s the battery that’s dead in the first place. The only way to be certain is to take it in to be tested. However, it generally helps to know the health of your vehicle battery prior to finding yourself stranded.

  • When Was The Last Time You Had Your Coolant Flushed On Your Fleet?

    Routine maintenance keeps your fleet trucks safe on the road and protects you against unplanned trips to your local automotive shop! One thing a lot of people forget about is to have their coolant flushed. Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, PA will help you make sure your fleet vehicle is properly flushed every time!

  • Where Did Speed Limits Come From?

    maximum speed 55 sign

    At Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, the history of cars is a huge topic of interest to us. Here’s an interesting piece of automotive trivia, from us to you.

  • Why Does My Transmission Pop Out of Gear?

    transmission

    Manual transmissions are durable, reliable pieces of equipment. Still, sometimes problems arise. Martin's Garage in Shippensburg has the answer to a question that plagues many manual transmissions; why does my transmission pop out of gear?

  • Why is there a puddle under my car?

    Cars, trucks, and SUVs use and create multiple liquid substances. Here’s what you need to know about the puddle of liquid under your vehicle, from Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, PA. There are a few different substances that can pool under an automobile, and some are more serious than others. Knowing what to look for and what to do could save you from hassle with your vehicle in the long run. 

  • Why you need routine service.

    vehicle service

    Routine services are routine for a good reason. Schedule them with us here so we can be sure that your vehicle stays in the best shape. Here’s a look into what happens when routine services aren’t performed, from Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, PA.

  • Windshield Wipers: Maintenance and Buying Tips

    windshield wiper being replaced

    Ah, windshield wipers. Like so many indispensable things in life, we tend not to appreciate them until they’re gone. But what if all drivers had a basic understanding of the wonderful world of wipers, enabling them to identify problems early and choose replacements wisely? We like that idea. Accordingly, we’ve put together a crash course that should bring your knowledge up to speed. Your automotive windows to the world require dependable wipers, so let’s learn more about these unsung heroes.

  • Your brake lights work?

    car taillights

    If your brake lights are giving you trouble, it’s something you want to get fixed. It’s a safety hazard, and you might also get a ticket out of it. Why aren’t they working, and what can you do about it? Martin's Garage in Shippensburg, PA has the answers.

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