Automotive News & Information - Melvin's Auto & Truck Repair

As your vehicle ages, it not only gains sentimental value but a number of maintenance measures arise as well. Vehicles from previous decades have the potential to keep their value and functionality for many years. But how can you make that possible? Here are some tips from Melvin's Auto & Truck Repair to keep your older vehicle running and on the road for a long time!

Modern vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, and as a result, computer diagnostic systems are becoming a necessity rather than a convenience. At Melvin's Auto & Truck Repair in St Augustine, FL, our state of the art technology and trained technicians are ready to diagnose any transmission issue you may be experiencing with your car, truck, or SUV.

diesel truck in front of a beautiful sunset

Whether you drive a Chevy, Ram, or Ford diesel pickup, Melvin's Auto & Truck Repair in St Augustine, FL is here to make sure your truck stays up to the task for a long time to come.

mechanic running diagnostics on a vehicle

At Melvin's Auto & Truck Repair in St Augustine, FL, our technicians have a wide variety of top of the line tools and equipment available to diagnose and repair your vehicle. We utilize equipment at the forefront of technological innovation to best provide for the specific needs of your car.

There’s a huge percentage of vehicle on the road, right now, with the check engine light illuminated. Many of them have had it on for years, even. Frequently, a check engine light will illuminate, but pose no immediate problems, so people just get used to it and learn to live with it being on. However, Melvin's Auto & Truck Repair in St Augustine, FL would like you to know that it’s worth having it looked into. Typically, the problem can be diagnosed by simply plugging your car into our computer; the vehicle gives us a code, and we know what the problem is immediately.

Trucks aren’t like cars...your average personal vehicle usually holds about 5 quarts of oil, and you are supposed to change it every 3-5k miles. However, the same logic doesn’t apply to large trucks. At Melvin's Auto & Truck Repair in St Augustine, FL, we know how important proper oil changes and diagnostics are to keep your truck on the road, for hundreds of thousands of miles. Here’s what you need to know:

battery diagnostics being ran on a car battery by a mechanic

Your vehicle's radio and headlights, plus a slew of other important functions, are powered by an electrical current generated by your vehicle’s engine. A vital part of generating electricity is having a place to store it while it’s not being used, which is where a car battery comes into play. The battery holds electrical energy while a car is off in order to help the engine turn over and create a spark to start internal combustion. Without a working battery, your car will not be able to start. If you perform proper maintenance, however, an average car battery can start your car reliably for roughly four years.

At Melvin's Auto & Truck Repair we know how important tire maintenance is. Like the shoes on our feet, the tires and wheels on our cars protect us from direct contact with the ground. And like those shoes, we wear day in and day out, tires and wheels can rub, wear unevenly, and eventually fail to do their jobs.