Repair Services
To keep your vehicle running properly at all times, we offer a number of services in the Baltimore, MD 21224 area, that are carried out by our certified, expert auto service and repair technicians, who have years of experience performing everything, from oil changes to a complete engine overhaul.
We use high-tech diagnostic equipment to guarantee your vehicle is repaired and/or serviced correctly the first time around, and we only use the highest quality replacement parts, filters, oils, and components when it comes to your car.
Our services include:
- 4×4 Services
- Alignment
- Brakes
- Car & Truck Care
- Domestic Cars & Trucks
- Electrical Services
- Electronic Services
- Engine & Transmission
- Engine Maintenance
- Expired Warranty Care
- General Services
- Heating and Cooling Services
- Import Cars & Trucks
- Miscellaneous Services
- Quick Lube Services
- Tires
- Towing
- Transmission Services
- Undercar Services
Customer Service
Modern cars, light trucks, and sport-utility vehicles come with complex technology, such as digital dashboards, oxygen sensors, electronic computers, unibody construction, and more. They run better, longer, and more efficiently than models of years past. However, they eventually need to be replaced.
Before taking your vehicle in for repairs or service, do your homework, so you receive the best possible service.
- Read the owner’s manual to learn about the vehicle’s systems and components.
- Follow the recommended service schedules.
- Keep a log of all repairs and services.
- Do not ignore any warning signals your car may give you.
- Carry a written list of the symptoms that you can give your mechanic.
- Resist the temptation to suggest a specific course of repair. Allow our experienced technicians to diagnose and recommend a remedy.
- It’s important to note when the problem occurs. Is it constant or periodic? Does it occur when the vehicle is cold or after the engine has warmed up? Does it happen at all speeds? Only under acceleration? During braking? When shifting?
Check for the following common vehicle maintenance issues regularly:
- Unusual sounds, odors, drips, leaks, smoke, warning lights, gauge readings.
- Changes in acceleration, engine performance, gas mileage, fluid levels.
- Worn tires, belts, hoses.
- Problems in handling, braking, steering, and vibrations.
- When did the problem first start?
How to manage your service experience:
- Ask as many questions as needed to fully understand your repair. Ask for an explanation in layman's terms if necessary.
- Don’t rush the technicians. You may be called and apprised of the problem, course of action, and the cost before work begins.
- Before you leave, be sure you understand shop policies regarding labor rates, guarantees, and acceptable methods of payment.
- Make sure the shop has your contact information readily available, so you can be reached as soon as possible.
Guarantees
Proudly Offering a 24-month 24,000-mile Warranty on Parts and Labor
Tires
At S.A.P. Automotive Group, we value the safety of our customers above all else. We want to ensure that you get to where you’re going every time with a reliable and safe vehicle. A major problem area for the cars and trucks that come into S.A.P. Automotive Group is tires. Your tires are your connection to the road, and without them doing their job properly, all the handling development and safety testing that went into your car may not keep you safe. Here is some basic information on your tires and how to know when the time has come for replacements.
Why are old or bad tires dangerous?
As stated above, your tires are an extremely important component of your car or truck. If you’ve ever been out of control in a vehicle, you’ll know how scary being a powerless passenger inside a two-ton metal box can be. Driving on tires that are too old, improperly inflated, out of balance, or not suited to weather conditions can spell disaster for your safe journey. Your tires were designed with a very specific task in mind. Using them improperly can have sudden and catastrophic consequences.
Signs your tires need air
This issue can be fairly simple to spot. If your tire seems to be wider at the part that contacts the road, they probably need to be topped up with air. Driving on under-inflated tires wears them out faster due to uneven pressure on the sidewall and can lead to full-on flats and even end up shredding the tire off the wheel! Low tire pressure ruins your vehicle’s fuel economy. If you’ve ever ridden a bicycle with under-inflated tires, you know how much extra effort you have to put in to get moving and stay rolling. On the flip side of this, driving with too much air in your tires is also unsafe. While it’s unlikely that hitting a large pothole would cause the tire to burst (remember they’re built to last for thousands of miles), having too much air pressure in a tire reduces the size of the contact patch or the area where the rubber meets the road. This can lead to less grip and control over your vehicle. Every tire manufacturer prints the correct tire pressure on the side of their tires, so it’s easy to find out the perfect pressure for your ride.
Signs your tires are out of tread
As with having over-inflated tires, a lack of tread can lead to less control and worse handling for your car or truck. Your tires’ tread patterns help them to hold the road, as well as channel mud and water away from the areas that need to do the gripping. Without enough tread depth, your car can ride up on top of the water on the road and cause you a complete loss of control. There are a few common methods of measuring tread depth, such as using a penny to gauge whether or not it’s time to replace your tires, but we recommend coming into S.A.P. Automotive Group in Baltimore, MD, for a professional opinion on the matter. Not all tires are created equal and must be replaced at different times.
Signs your tires are damaged
Signs that your tires are damaged can come from a few sources. A visual inspection can catch potential problems before they become major issues, such as nails or rocks embedded in the tread grooves. Always remember that there’s a great deal of pressure contained within your tires. If you see any gashes, or bubbles or hear the hiss of air escaping, it’s best to stay away from that tire and enlist the help of a professional. Believe us, you don’t want a tire exploding anywhere near you.
You can sometimes feel tire damage while driving. If your car begins to make strange noises as it goes down the road, or the handling suddenly becomes worse, you should pull over as soon as it’s safe. Driving on a flat is a bad idea, and can often lead to more severe damage to your vehicle.
What can and cannot be repaired
Tires are expensive and we take any opportunity we can to repair them safely and save you money. Small punctures can often be plugged and patched (it should always be both!), but sometimes the tire’s day is done. If the puncture is on the outer edge of the tire (outside the tread), it’s probably unsafe to repair. The same goes for a tire that’s been driven on while flat. In this case, the sidewall has become weakened and the tire is no longer safe. As with recommended pressures, each manufacturer has guides for what can and can’t be repaired.
At S.A.P. Automotive Group, customer safety is our number one priority. We hope you’ll be a little safer with this information. If you’d like to talk about whether your tires may need inspection or replacement, call us at (410) 342-2800, or visit us at 420 S. Kresson St., Baltimore, Maryland 21224. Happy travels!
We offer most major brands of tires. These are a few of our preferred brands.