Wilmington Auto Repair

What to Look For Few things can ruin a pleasant drive quicker than the check engine light. That comfortable, relaxing drive can quickly transition into panic and stress once the light is triggered. But at Kirkwood Auto Center, we think the check engine light is misunderstood. The light actually provides you with a decent amount of information so you’ll know what to do next, as long as you know how to read it. Do you see the check engine light in your vehicle? Are you unsure of what to do next? We’re here to help with just that, as we’ll show what you need to look for whenever you see this warning light! Is The Light Steady or Flashing? When you see the check engine light, first pay attention to how it’s lighted. Is the light steady, or is it flashing? By understanding this, you’ll quickly know what you need to do next. If you see the light steady, that means there is a small problem going on in your vehicle. Technically, your vehicle is fine for the time b ... read more

Times have changed, and so have transportation and expectations for our vehicles. Think back to the Sock Hop dances of the 1950’s. Held in school gyms where street shoes weren’t allowed, young people abandoned their shoes and danced in their socks. Today, the music has changed, the dances have been updated, and we keep our shoes on in public. When you think about it, transportation bears a striking similarity. Updated designs and technology mean that we expect a smoother ride from our cars than we did all those years ago, and we better understand the protective value of keeping on our “shoes,” a sufficient amount of tire tread. These shifts create the need for ensuring proper wheel alignment. While the Sock Hop was great fun decades ago, it’s not cool when your car is a “bad dancer.” Instead of letting your car do an outdated dance, bring it to Kirkwood Auto Center in Wilmington, Delaware. Signs Pointing to the Need for Wheel Alignment If somet ... read more

A Proper Wheel Alignment Will Keep Your Vehicle In The Right Lane Your wheels are precisely aligned to keep your car moving forward and encourage even wear. While bad wheel alignment may not seem like an emergency, it’s important to address this issue promptly. Find out how improper alignment can affect your vehicle and where to go in Wilmington, Delaware, for professional alignment service. Dangers of Bad Wheel Alignment Several issues can arise when you continue to drive with a bad wheel alignment. Here are just a few effects that you can expect if you don’t promptly restore proper alignment: Uneven tire wear Additional suspension stress Difficulty steering Reduced fuel economy Because one or more of your tires are misaligned, they will begin to wear unevenly. This can cause your tires to wear out quickly, which costs you more in wheel replacement and maintenance. Similarly, your suspension system receives uneven stress, which causes your shocks and other suspension com ... read more

Our Qualified Technicians Will Keep Your Hybrid On the Road Longer Hybrid vehicles have quickly become the mainstay of discerning car buyers across the United States. Thanks to their fuel efficiency and reliability, they are just as friendly to shoppers’ wallets as they are to the environment. As with any new technology, there are hurdles to overcome when repairing and maintaining these vehicles. When it comes to hybrid repair, it’s much safer to choose a qualified garage like Kirkwood Auto Center in Wilmington to ensure your vehicle gets the attention it deserves. Hybrid Basics The key to maintaining and repairing hybrid vehicles is understanding how it all works. These cars and trucks are hybrids because they rely on two forms of fuel: gasoline and electricity. Like conventional internal combustion engines, hybrids store their gas in a tank and electricity in a battery. The differences arise when you consider how much these vehicles rely on their batteries and the limitat ... read more