Hitting a pothole always hurts - you may not be sure exactly what happens when you hit a pothole, but you can tell it’s not good for your car, truck, or SUV. Here are issues caused by potholes, and what to watch out for if you hit a really rough one, from Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, FL.

At Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, we understand that big trucks mean bigger risk on the road. Here are some tips to remember, to reduce the likelihood of an accident resulting in large repair costs next time you're on the job.

Foggy headlights are a problem that has arisen in the past couple of decades, as we have moved away from glass sealed beam bulbs and into an era of plastic lenses with bulbs inside. While modern headlights are superior to the sealed beam headlights of years ago, they do tend to fog up after years of use. It’s a good trade for far better illumination and easier replacement, but an issue nonetheless. Hours and hours of heat, sunlight, and age eventually cause them to cloud up, which can reduce visibility at night in addition to worsening the appearance of your car, truck, or SUV. From Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, FL, here are some tips on taking care of your foggy or cloudy headlight issue.

At Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, efficiency is a concept that interests us. While your fuel economy is largely dependent on what kind of car, truck, or SUV you drive, there are a variety of tips and tricks to get the most bang for your buck. We’ve provided a few of our favorites here.

Tires are often neglected, but easy to maintain. As long as they work, most people don’t really think about them. However, if you take care to properly maintain your vehicle and your tires, they will last much, much longer. At Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, we see all too often the results of poor tire maintenance, and the result is expensive new tires. Here’s what you can do to make sure you don’t become part of that statistic.

If you drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, you know that clutch replacement can be an expensive and time-consuming job. Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview has some tips to keep your clutch replacements as infrequent as possible.

If you drive a performance or luxury vehicle, there are important points to remember in preserving not only your car or SUV, but it's resale value as well. Luxury and performance vehicles depreciate more quickly than other cars. Many who own these cars like to have the newest and the best of the best. In that way, the odds are stacked against you when trying to get a good price for your car. Fortunately, Martel Automotive Service Inc has some steps you can take to ensure you get the most for your car when it’s time to sell. 

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, Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, FL has a few tips to help you get there.

Ride quality is an essential part of your driving experience. At Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, 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.

If you drive a luxury or performance vehicle, you’re an owner of a reliable machine. Still, occasionally problems do arise. On vehicles like these, with so many electronics, a dead battery is a common issue. At Martel Automotive Service Inc we want to keep our customers informed, here’s how to jump-start your vehicle safely. 

At Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, FL, our main goal is to keep your car, truck, or SUV always performing at its best. Valve adjustments are an integral aspect of that goal.

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 to give priority to, and what can wait. However, some small problems are indicators that a bigger issue is on the way. At Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, FL, our goal is to keep you and your fleet going.

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 Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, FL.

At Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, 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.

Getting into the habit of saving on fuel now will mean you’ll be ready when prices start hitting the $4.00-gallon mark once again. You don’t have to buy a new, fuel-efficient car, either. No one wants to trade a fuel bill for a car payment, so take a look at our top 5 ways to save on fuel and you may just be able to pocket a little extra money at the end of the month.

Brake pads are important - you don’t need them to go, but you do need them to stop. At Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, FL, 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!

“Water pump” is a term you’ve most likely heard in conversations about vehicles. But what is it, what does it actually do, and how do you know if you need a new one? At Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, we know the answers to these questions, and soon you will too.

It’s not always easy to recognize when your vehicle is suffering from a simple problem that requires a little maintenance and TLC or there is real engine damage as symptoms can be overlooked and seen as “normal.” While not all sounds and smells may threaten the life of your vehicle or truck engine, there are some obvious warning signs that require a vehicle inspection here at the shop right away.

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 Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, FL, 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?

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 Martel Automotive Service Inc in Belleview, FL, we specialize in maintenance and repair on Cummins, Duramax, and Powerstroke engines, including injection pumps.