214 Broadway St | Frederick, MD
   

Vehicle Maintenance

  • technician holding a clean and dirty air filter comparison in the front seat of a car

    When driving around town, your vehicle's engine needs clean air to burn the fuel – and it needs a lot. In fact, a typical vehicle needs about 216,000 gallons of air for every tank of gas. All that air passes through a filter that catches the dust and dirt. Eventually, the filter gets completely full, and because the filter can only hold so much, dirt starts getting through. At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, we want to help you get the best air quality in your vehicle, but first, we want to explain the process of where this dirty air is going. 

  • oil image

    You know how often to change your engine oil; but what about the gear oil in your standard shift transmission? Here’s a short guide, from Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick.  Unless you’re lucky enough to own a car with a transmission dipstick, inspecting the gear oil in a manual transmission is a lot more inconvenient than doing so with an automatic, or checking your engine oil. The car must be jacked up, supported, and the oil checked from underneath. As a result, you may just want to change it when the time is right. But how do you know when that time comes?

  • custom filter on a vehicle

    Your car, truck, or SUV is equipped with various filters that keep the air going into your engine clean, the air you breathe in the vehicle, the fuel that supplies your engine, and the oil that keeps it going. How often should you have them replaced? It depends on the filter, the vehicle, and the environment. Here’s what you need to know, from Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD.

  • At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD, we know there’s a lot of conflict on when you should maintain certain things on your truck. We also know there are consequences to neglecting maintenance; the difference between a truck that breaks down all the time and a truck that has covered over a million miles virtually trouble-free all boils down to maintenance.

  • shifter on vehicle

    If you drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, you know that clutch replacement can be an expensive and time-consuming job. Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick has some tips to keep your clutch replacements as infrequent as possible.

  • technician with a wrench working on the engine

    Eventually, the time comes to replace your car, truck, or SUV. Often, you’ll decide to go used to save some money. This can either be a great financial decision, but it takes a little more groundwork to make sure you’re getting a good deal and a reliable vehicle. From researching, to test driving, to inspecting a used vehicle, Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD has a few tips to help you get there.

  • shocks

    Ride quality is an essential part of your driving experience. At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, we strive to keep your car, truck, or SUV as smooth and comfortable to drive as the day it came off the lot. Your shock absorbers play a huge role in ride quality; here’s what you should know.

  • transmission fluid dip stick

    At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, we know that a key aspect of taking care of your transmission is understanding how it works. Here’s some info on transmission fluid types, in case you’re having trouble finding yours.

  • man turning key to car

    If you own or operate a fleet or commercial truck, you know it’s hard to keep everything working perfectly all the time. You have to choose what types of maintenance to give priority to, and what can wait. However, some small problems are indicators that a bigger issue is on the way. At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD, our goal is to keep your fleet going.

  • tow truck and guy calling on the phone by side of the road

    Something will go wrong with your car, truck, or SUV eventually. The important thing is knowing what to do, and how to deal with it. Just knowing what to do in a situation often means the difference between a quick repair and thousands of dollars worth of work. If you see steam coming from under the hood, it’s important to deal with it appropriately and quickly. Here’s what’s going on, and what to do, from Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD.

  • deployed airbag in car

    At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, we believe it’s important for you to know how different systems in your car, truck, or SUV operate. Whether you want to know what to watch out for, or you’re just curious about how things work, we’re here to supply the answers.

  • mechanic repairing brakes on a vehicle

    The time to know if your brakes are going bad is NOT when you go to stop at that red light or on the parkway when someone suddenly swerves in front of you.  It's not always "just" brake pads either, your brake master cylinder could be an issue. How do you recognize the signs that you have a real problem with your brake master cylinder and just what is it?   Here atSkip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD we not only have the answers, but we also put together a service schedule for you and keep an eye on issues based on your driving habits, vehicle type and your description of issues you are having.  We treat your car, truck or SUV as if it were ours keeping you informed of issues we find so you can get them fixed "before" there are larger repair bills so you can keep your vehicle Newer - Longer!   Below is everything you need to look for and tips on your brake master cylinder.

  • car at fuel pump While fuel pump issues are common, they often get misdiagnosed. What is your fuel pump, how do you know if yours is bad, and what should you do about it? At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD, we are going to make sure that you are an informed driver so you know what to look for and what you should do about it.
  • brakes on a vehicle

    Brake pads are important - you don’t need them to go, but you do need them to stop. At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD, we like to keep your vehicle stopping exactly as it should - it’s less dangerous, and it keeps insurance premiums low. So, how do you know if your brake pads are going bad? How do they work? What even are they? We’ve got the answers!

  • Push Start Button on Vehicle

    When a vehicle has trouble starting, many people initially blame the starter. What is the starter, and how do you know if yours has called it quits? At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD, we want to keep you informed, and telling you what to look for will prevent further damage when issues arise. The starter is essentially just an electric motor; a gear at the end of that electric motor engages the flywheel, which turns the engine over, allowing it to start. How do you know if yours is failing?

  • Smoke coming out of muffler

    Diesel engines are known for their durability, but even the best engine has to be replaced every once in a while. At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD, we want you to be aware of signs that your engine is about to call it quits.

  • injection pump

    Whether you drive a Chevy, Ford, or Ram diesel pickup, your engine is likely equipped with an injection pump. While injection pumps have been gradually phased out on modern engines, they are still an integral part of most diesel engine operations. At Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD, we specialize in maintenance and repair on Cummins, Duramax, and Powerstroke engines, including injection pumps.

  • heater in car

    The climate control system in your car works hard to keep you at a comfortable temperature. If you’re having heater issues, trust the performance car specialists with us at Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD to get you comfortably back on the road.

  • One of the most annoying sounds known to man is a loud squeal every time you start your car, truck, or SUV. What causes this, and what can you do to fix it? Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick, MD has the answer.

  • muffler image

    Do you have a noisy vehicle? If so, you may need a new muffler or exhaust system from our team here at Skip's Auto Repair in Frederick. The purpose of your exhaust system is not only to reduce the noise but also to redirect fumes away from your vehicle. Redirecting these fumes protects passengers in the car from toxins created by burning fuel.

    Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless chemical that can escape from an unsecured exhaust system, and if inhaled can pose very serious health hazards. If you experience an unusually loud sound coming from your vehicle, it is vital to get your exhaust system checked immediately!