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Q: I have a 2008 Hyundai Sonata and the other night while driving to work, I hit a pothole in the road and heard a loud pop. My tire didn't go flat, but there is a bubble in the rubber of my tire now. What causes that and is it dangerous? - Anthony A: Hi Anthony,  A bubble in your tire after a pothole means that your tire's inner liner was damaged from hard impact. There are other things that cause bubbles, such as manufacturer defect, curbs, railroad tracks, and debris in the road but si...

Q: My 2005 Ford Explorer has a big issue. It was running fine at 82,000 miles when I took it to an oil change place. They sold me two tires and within a week my transmission was acting weird. I took it to them and they said “sorry, tires and oil changes is all we do, we don’t have mechanics for ‘big repairs.’” Can you help? I don’t have money for a new transmission. – Mike C.   A: Hi Mike, Sorry for your troubles. I can say that this is a familiar problem for All Wheel Drive vehi...

Q: My TPMS light went on the other day. I had a shop check all four tires and there is no nails or ail leaking from any of them, and the tire pressure is correct. Why did it go on? - Dominic A: Hi Dominic,  If your car came with a spare tire, you need to have the spare tire infaltion checked. Spare tires also affect the TPM system and if that is under inflated the light will go on. Bring it by Tire Pros of Frederick and we can check it for you, and infalte it if necessary. 

Q: Do I need to use manufacturer's original equipment in order for my warranty to stay valid? - Adam A: Hello Adam,  The short answer is no. Automotive companies can not legally require you to use manufacturer's original equipment in your vehicle maintenance. You can use any brand that you feel comfortable with. 

Q: What is the difference between factory new, aftermarket new, remanufactured, and used? - Sheryl A: Hi Sheryl,  All four categories have a purpose when it comes to repairs. Usually they are selected according to availability, vehicle requirements, and your personal preference. Cost and life expectancy of a vehicle also play a factor in making a part recommendation. A factory new part is made by the company that produced the vehicle. An aftermarket new part is made by a company other tha...

Q: With the change of the seasons and temperature, do I need to have my car checked out? - Allyson A: Hi Allyson,  It's always a good idea when the seasons change to have your coolant checked to determine its freezing and boiling points to veirfy whether or not it needs to be changed. It's also a good idea to have your air conditioning system checked before summer - it's cheaper to get fixed before summer starts! 

Q: My anti lock brake system light is on in my car. What does that mean? - Nora A: Dear Nora,  Many newer cars are equipped with anti-lock brake systems (ABS.) This prevents brakes from locking up during sudden, hard stops. When the ABS indicator light is on it usually means that your ABS system isn't working properly and needs service; however, your normal, non-ABS braking system should still function properly. 

Q: I have a 1987 Chevy Celebrity and someone told me I may have a blown head gasket. How can I tell if I do? - Paul A: Hi Paul,  There are a few indicators that you may have a blown head gasket such as: coolant in your oil (your oil would be a milky brown color,) white smoke coming from your exhaust, coolant loss, but no apparent leaks, or that your car just won't start. It's always best to have a professional take a look at your car, so bring it by Tire Pros of Frederick and let one of o...

Q: How do I know when it's time for new tires? - Mr. Dorsey A: Dear Mr. Dorsey,  There are several signs that indicate it's time for new tires. If you can see cords showing through the rubber, your tires are worn and need to be replaced. You should always look for any bumps, bulges or punctures. If your tires have 1/16 inch or less of tread remaining, this indicates excessive tread wear, and it is time for new tires. 

Q: I have a 2008 Ford Explorer and I went to a different tire shop to have 2 tires replaced. They told me that my car requires all 4 tires to be replaced, but 2 of them are not damaged. Were they trying to rip me off? - Alicia A: Hi Alicia,  Because your car has all wheel drive, the answer is no, they are not trying to rip you off. They are actually concerned about the safety of your vehicle! If only two are replaced, it is almost certain that the tires have a different circumference than...