ENGINE MAINTENANCE

Engine maintenance is vital to keep your car or truck operating at peak performance. It also impacts the longevity of your vehicle's engine. Trust the experts at Victor Auto Body Works to help you protect your investment. Call us at 860-346-8800 or visit our shop in Middletown.

These are some of the engine maintenance services we offer.

Check Engine Light
No one likes to see their car's "Check Engine" light come on. The light could mean a costly problem, like a bad catalytic converter, or it could be something minor, like a loose gas cap. At Victor Auto Body Works, we can pull the code and diagnose the problem for you. Give us a call at 860-346-8800 or stop by the shop for our expert assistance.

Oil Change
Did you know that regularly changing the oil in your vehicle is one of the simplest, most effective and inexpensive ways to help protect its engine life? Oil lessens wear, reduces friction, and forms a seal between the pistons, rings, and cylinder walls. The oil also helps cool engine parts and even dampens the shock and noise of moving parts. For all your oil change needs, call 860-346-8800 or visit Victor Auto Body Works today. We have years of experience helping drivers with oil changes and other auto maintenance needs.

Spark Plug Questions and Answers

How do you know when a spark plug needs to be replaced?

The most common sign a spark plug needs replacing is the feeling that the car's engine is hesitating when accelerating, but other signs may include misfiring at start up, rough idling, sluggish acceleration, declining fuel economy and engine knocking.

What else should I replace when replacing spark plugs?

If you are considering having your vehicle's spark plugs replaced, there's a high probability that your spark plug wires need changing as well. Ignition wires become brittle over time. Old ignition wires can break and cause misfires or declining fuel economy.

Serpentine Belt Question and Answer

How do I know if I need to replace my car's serpentine belt?

If your serpentine belt is failing, you may notice performance issues with your vehicle. The vehicle may frequently overheat. Your air conditioning or power steering may fail to work or not work properly. You may notice your vehicle battery failing to recharge if the alternator is affected by a bad serpentine belt. If you start to notice any of these issues we encourage you to bring your vehicle to Victor Auto Body Works as soon as possible to avoid bigger problems and breakdown.

Check Engine Light Questions and Answers

What could cause a check engine light to come on?

Come by Victor Auto Body Works and we can diagnose the reasons for a check engine light turning on. It can range from something serious like a faulty catalytic converter or potential engine failure to something simple like a loose gas cap or the need for a simple 50K or 100K mile manufacturer maintenance check.

Is it okay to drive with the engine light on?

The short answer, "No." The longer explanation is the light may indicate a serious engine failure and continuing to use your car as if nothing is wrong could result in a very expensive repair bill. The check engine light means you should stop driving and have your car looked at as soon as possible by a professional at Victor Auto Body Works in Middletown.

What is the most common problem with my check engine light?

A loose gas cap is the most common cause of a check engine light coming on. But the best method to determine why the check engine light is on is to have a professional at Victor Auto Body Works read the diagnostic code in the car's internal OBD computer.

What does a solid check engine light mean?

A steady check engine light indicates a non-emergency issue. Come by Victor Auto Body Works and we can help.

What does an intermittent flashing check engine light mean?

Flashing check engine lights warn of severe situations requiring immediate attention. Get your vehicle to an auto repair shop as quickly as possible or get it safely parked and call a tow truck to take it to your preferred auto repair shop.

Can I turn off my check engine light myself?

It is a very bad idea to try to resolve a check engine light yourself. The DIY method to turn off a check engine light without a scanner is disconnect the battery cables, wait 1 minute, and reconnect the battery cables. If the underlying issue has been resolved, the light should go off. But modern automobiles rely on battery power to maintain important systems such as the O2 sensor and ADAS systems. By disconnecting the battery, you run the risk of damaging these delicate and expensive to replace computer-driven components. If your check engine light is on come by Victor Auto Body Works in Middletown. Turning off a check engine light is often inexpensive and simple.