Capitol Heights, MD · Open 7 Days
Car Care Tips
Straight answers to the questions drivers ask before deciding whether to call a shop.
8:30 AM–6:00 PM, seven days a week 8632 Edgeworth Dr, Capitol Heights, MD 20743
Diagnostics
Warning lights, no-starts and strange behavior.
Why is my check-engine light on?
A check-engine light means the engine computer detected something outside its expected range and stored a code. A steady light means get it …
Why won’t my car start?
Listen to what the car does when you turn the key. If it cranks but never fires, it is missing spark, fuel or compression. If it clicks or d…
Brakes
Noises, vibration and knowing when pads are done.
Signs your brake pads need replacement
A high-pitched squeal when braking is the built-in wear indicator telling you pads are near the end. Grinding means the friction material is…
Why do brakes squeak or grind?
Squealing is usually the wear indicator or surface glazing. Grinding is metal on metal and means the pads are finished. A morning-only squea…
Transmission
Slipping, shifting problems and what repair really costs.
Signs of a failing transmission
The clearest sign is slipping: the engine revs climb but the car does not accelerate with them. Delayed engagement, hard or jerky shifts, sh…
Transmission repair, rebuild, or replacement?
Repair fixes one failed component and leaves the rest alone. A rebuild takes your transmission apart and replaces the worn internals. Replac…
Tires and Alignment
Pulling, uneven wear and punctures.
Why does my car pull to one side?
If the car pulls while driving normally, start with tire pressure and alignment. If it only pulls when you brake, the cause is in the brakes…
Can a punctured tire be repaired?
Usually yes, if the puncture is in the tread area, is not too large, and the tire was not driven flat. Punctures in the sidewall or shoulder…
A/C and Cooling
Warm air, overheating and coolant leaks.
Why is my car A/C blowing warm air?
Most warm-air complaints come down to low refrigerant, and refrigerant only gets low because it leaked out. A/C is a sealed system, so recha…
Why is my car overheating?
Most overheating traces back to low coolant from a leak, a thermostat stuck closed, a failed water pump, or cooling fans that are not runnin…
Maintenance
Oil, tune-ups and keeping an older car going.
How often should you change your oil?
Follow the interval in your owner’s manual, not the sticker on your windshield. Most modern vehicles run considerably longer than 3,000 mile…
What is included in a tune-up?
On a modern vehicle a tune-up generally means spark plugs, ignition components, filters, and inspection of the systems that affect how the e…
Preventive maintenance for older vehicles
Older cars can run a long time, but only if the things that strand you are addressed before they fail. Prioritize the cooling system, belts …
Car maintenance before a long trip
Check tires including the spare, the cooling system, brakes, battery, fluids, and wipers. Highway driving stresses different things than cit…
Roadside Problems
What to do when you are stuck right now.
Jump start or battery replacement?
A jump start is enough if the battery was drained by something you can identify, like lights left on. If the battery went dead on its own, o…
What should you do after getting a flat tire?
Slow down gradually, keep a firm grip on the wheel, and get well off the road before stopping. If you are on a highway shoulder with traffic…
Repair Costs
What actually drives the price of a repair, and what you control.
What affects the cost of a brake job?
The single biggest factor is how far the wear went before you came in. Pads alone is the cheapest brake job there is. Pads plus rotors costs…
What affects the cost of transmission repair?
Transmission work spans a wider price range than any other repair on a car, because "transmission problem" covers everything from a fluid se…
What affects the cost of car A/C repair?
A/C is a sealed system, so if it is low on refrigerant there is a leak somewhere. The cost depends almost entirely on where that leak is. A …
Why do shops charge for diagnostics?
A free code read at a parts counter tells you which circuit reported a fault. A paid diagnosis tells you which part actually failed. Those a…
What affects the cost of an oil change?
Oil type and capacity account for most of the difference. Full synthetic costs more than conventional, and an engine holding eight quarts co…
What affects the cost of a wheel alignment?
A straightforward alignment is a set procedure at a set price. It goes up when the suspension has worn parts that must be replaced first, be…
What affects the cost of battery and alternator work?
Testing first is what controls the cost. A battery and an alternator produce nearly identical symptoms, and replacing the wrong one means pa…
What affects the cost of auto body repair?
Two things drive body repair pricing: whether the panel can be repaired or has to be replaced, and how much paint work the color match requi…
Stranded? Call YBE for Roadside Help
Mobile assistance for dead batteries, flat tires, fuel delivery, lockouts, no-start conditions and select minor problems in Capitol Heights and nearby communities.
Safety Notice
If you are stopped in an unsafe traffic location or facing an immediate emergency, contact 911 first. Stay in your vehicle with your seat belt fastened if it is not safe to stand outside it. Note: YBE provides roadside assistance, not towing.
Your Local Shop in Capitol Heights
Located at 8632 Edgeworth Dr, Capitol Heights, MD 20743
Still Not Sure?
Describe the symptom over the phone and we will tell you what it points at.
Hours
8:30 AM–6:00 PM, seven days a week
Book Your Visit
Request an appointment and we will get back to you to confirm a time.