Posted on 4/28/2022

The last thing you want is to damage your car while driving. But if you're in the middle of a highway and the check engine light comes on, what should you do? Will you damage the engine if you drive a few miles further to the next gas station? The answer to this question can be tricky. It's useful to know what kind of check engine light your car has. Is it just an orange light or is there a red one as well? Does the light flash when the situation is dire? Does the light stay constant when the issue does not require your immediate attention? Knowing how the check engine light functions in your car can help you understand what the car's diagnostic system communicates whenever it flashes or lights up. Check your car's manual to make sure you're familiar with its language. When the frightful check engine light does comes on, stay calm. Reduce your speed and inspect how your vehicle is performing. Use all your senses to reassess if there is something strange or dist ... read more
Posted on 3/17/2021
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Too much heat presents a great challenge to motor vehicles. Thankfully, all vehicles have a measure to keep themselves cool. The car's engine has a cooling system aided by a coolant, a fluid that runs in the engine and transmits heat away from it. The coolant should remain clean for it to function effectively. Dirty coolant must be flushed out and replaced with a fresh one. But how do you know when your coolant needs flushing? To know this, be on the lookout for the following symptoms. Your Vehicle Overheats As stated above, the role of the coolant is to keep your engine temperatures low. If your temperature gauge is always on the higher side, it means the coolant is no longer performing its duty and needs flushing. An overheating engine can easily break down, resulting in costly repairs. A Maple Syrup Smell From Your Car (Engine) One sure sign that your coolant needs flushing is the smell of maple syrup, butterscotch, or pancakes coming from your engine. The ethylene glycol ... read more
Posted on 8/31/2020

Filters are an essential part of life. Without a filter, your summer swim in the pool would be a summer swim in a cesspool. Your air filter prevents you from breathing harmful debris and contaminants. Filters are usually there to trap what you don’t need and leave you with what you do need. Your car has many filters to trap harmful particles from entering your engine or cabin. The fuel filter is one of the most essential filters because it works to deliver clean fuel to the combustion chamber continually. If you don’t regularly replace your fuel filter, the filter can become clogged, resulting in severe damage and costly repairs. What happens if you don’t change your fuel filter? Below are a few common issues to expect from a clogged fuel filter: The Engine Will Stall A fuel filter that’s clogged or blocked will stall your engine while you’re driving. If a vehicle doesn’t get the proper amount of fuel, it will stall. The Ch ... read more
Posted on 7/31/2020

All vehicles are equipped with a sophisticated computer system that’s programmed to alert you if it detects something wrong. If you turn on the ignition and notice a warning light, it’s important to bring your vehicle into Dickerson Automotive as soon as possible for an inspection. Depending on which warning light illuminates, a major issue can progress quickly and lead to an unexpected breakdown. It’s important to pay attention to the dashboard warning lights because not only do they keep you safe, but they prevent automotive failures and their expensive repair bills. Below are the most common dashboard warning lights and what they can indicate: Oil Pressure Light The oil pressure light is an image of an old fashioned oil tin and indicates an issue with your vehicle’s oil pressure system. If this light illuminates, your car may be low on oil, or the oil pressure is low. This light alerts of a problem that should be addressed as soon as ... read more
Posted on 6/15/2020
![[Infographic] To Rebuild or Remanufacture?](https://www.dickersonauto.com/Files/Images/blog/jasper-rebuild-remanufacture.png)
[Infographic] To Rebuild or Remanufacture? When your personal daily driver or commercial vehicle experiences a major failure, it’s important that you, as a value-conscious consumer, enter the shop with a working knowledge of what your options will be. While simply disposing of a failed vehicle and purchasing one new or used is certainly an option to consider, if your first instinct is to go to the automotive shop and not the junkyard, it’s likely that you sense the value in exploring your other options, which are to rebuild or remanufacture the failed components Often, and incorrectly, these two terms are used interchangeably, confusing the important differences between the two services. In this article, we’ll discuss these differences and how choosing one over the other can grant you the most value for your dollar. When Your Vehicle Fails in a Major Way You ... read more