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The Best & Quickest Guide To Getting Your Car Ready for Fall
Quick Guide to Getting Your Car Ready for Fall Labor Day weekend is upon us. And for most of us in Hanover, it’s considered the unofficial end of summer. So, while you’re planning your Labor Day plans, also start thinking about plans for your car or truck. Because, as the leaves begin to change and…
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Antifreeze and Our Hot New Freedom Summer Months
Why Your Vehicle Still Needs Antifreeze During the Summer Walking around our New Freedom community, it’s definitely obvious that we are in the midst of summer. Because the air is warm, the sun is shinning, and we are sweating. And it’s crazy to think of the need for antifreeze when the temps are in the…
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Alternator Voltage Regulator: Everything You Need to Know
What You Need to Know About Your Car’s Alternator Voltage Regulator Fireworks, food and fun are expected to make York’s annual Labor Day celebration electric! And we all know that an electric celebration is always a good thing. This holds true for the electric “celebration” that goes on in your car or truck. And we…
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The Best Action to Avoid Your Brake Rotors From Warping
Why Your Vehicle’s Brake Rotors Warp and How to Prevent It Imagine this: You just bought your tickets for Jersey Boys at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater when your teenage son came strolling in complaining about how the brakes grind every time he drives his car. So, now you’re thinking, maybe you spent money on…
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The Best Way to Get Your Ride Ready For Back to School
Get Your Car in Top Shape for York’s Back-to-School Season Back to School season is in full swing here in York. And along with it comes the planning, carpool scheduling, and back to school shopping that fills our calendar. But, one task you shouldn’t overlook as you stock up on supplies and adjust to new…
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The Danger of Mold and Mildew in Your Evaporator Coil
Understanding Your Car’s Evaporator Coil and the Dangers of Mold and Mildew Buildup We’re in the heart of the summer here in New Cumberland. And because it’s been wonderfully warm (albeit a bit too humid for us), we renew our appreciation for the brilliant invention of the vehicle air conditioner. Because, it’s car’s air conditioning…
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Your Vehicle’s Knock Sensor: What You Need to Know
Understanding Your Vehicle’s Knock Sensor: What It Is and How to Tell if It’s Faulty Certain noises can be annoying – like the knock, knock, knock of the East Petersburg pickleball court. And there are other noises that are more than annoying. Because they indicate a problem with your vehicle – like the knock, knock,…
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Your Car’s Suspension: 5 Red Flags You Need to Know
Top 5 Red Flags That Your Suspension Needs Repair Having your vehicle in good working condition is critical for staying safe on the road. And it’s never more evident than when we witness a crash, like the accident that shut down Route 30 in Lancaster County. Thankfully, it looks as if no one was hurt,…
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The Best Info on Your Exhaust System and Muffler
The Importance of Your Vehicle’s Exhaust System and Muffler Our dedicated workers in Harrisburg’s Department of Public Works have been working 12-16 hour days to clean up the storm damage caused by tornadoes that swept through our city. And just as our Public Works employees are dedicated to keeping both Harrisburg residents and our Harrisburg…
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Time for an Oil Change? Why Putting it Off is a Bad Idea.
Are Regular Oil Changes Really Important? Or Can You Put Them Off? Remnants of Debby rolled through Dauphin County early Friday morning, leaving behind fallen trees and downed wires. But, thankfully, most of our Harrisburg neighbors rode out the storm by being pro-active. When it comes to vehicle maintenance, being pro-active can be just as…
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Dead Battery. Again! What’s Going On and How Do I Fix it?
Why Does My Car Battery Keep Going Dead? What Can I Do About It? August is National Wellness Month. And while we’re totally all-in here in Camp Hill, it seems as if your car battery just isn’t. Because it’s gone dead. AGAIN! And you’re wondering what the heck is going on. If your car battery…
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Pew! What’s that Smell? The Best Advice to Fix a Stinky AC
What’s That Smell? Understanding and Fixing Your Car’s AC Odor Picture this: You jump into your car after a sweltering day of kayaking at Susquehanna River, happy to turn on the AC for a cooling ride home. But, instead your car’s air conditioning greets you with a tragically unpleasant odor. And you quickly decide that…
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Bad Brakes? Here’s Your Best Advice to Keep You Safe
How to Tell If Your Vehicle Brakes Are Failing and What to Do A severe thunderstorm warning has been in effect for us in Mechanicsburg. And the last thing you want when driving on rain-slicked roads is for your brakes to fail. Because, your vehicle’s brakes are critical for safety. And that makes recognizing signs…
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The Best Vehicle Checklist to Follow Before You Hit the Road
Ensure Your Adventure on the Road is a Good One with this Pre-Road Trip Vehicle Checklist After nearly three decades, the longtime Hanover cafe and bookstore has been sold. And as we wish the owners farewell as they embark on new adventures down life’s highway, we would also like to remind our Hanover drivers that…
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Everything You Need to Know About Your Cabin Air Filter
The Importance of Your Vehicle’s Cabin Air Filter and How to Maintain it. Remember last year when a car crashed into a carwash in Hanover? Luckily no one was hurt, but it did catch the building on fire. So, this leaves us thinking… when we want to clean out our vehicle, there may be better…
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A/C Not Working? How to Safeguard Your Car this Summer
The Strain Hot Weather Puts on Your Car’s AC and How to Prevent it from Causing Discomfort, Damage and Stress The heat is on! In fact, New Freedom drivers can expect temperatures in the mid 90s later this week. And, when the summer heat is at its peak, your car’s air conditioning (AC) system becomes…
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Today’s Vehicle Dilemma: Your Alternator Voltage Regulator
Understanding the Alternator Voltage Regulator Vehicle Dilemma: You were headed to The York Merchant on Market to participate in their grand reopening Saturday. But when you hit the start ignition in your car… nothing! It’s lack of “go-power” may be due to your vehicle’s alternator voltage regulator. So, what is this important part of your…
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Headlights Dim When Starting Your Car? What You Need to Know
Troubleshooting Why Your Vehicle Headlights Dim When Starting Seeing your headlights dim when you start your vehicle can be concerning. Because, when this happens it may indicate an underlying problem that needs your attention. And keeping your attention on automotive issues can prevent bigger problems; like when a driverless tractor-trailer drifted across Queen St. and…
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Does Your Car Have Trouble Starting? Here’s Some Solutions
Troubleshooting Why Your Car is Slow to Start Picture this: it’s been a long day with the family at the York County History Center checking out all the museums. But, now it’s time to go home. So you load up the kids, buckle them in, and then start up the car. But, alas, it is…
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Your Tire Sidewall Info: What You Need to Know to Save Big
Understanding Tire Sidewall Information: A Comprehensive Guide Ever wonder what all those numbers and letters on your tire’s sidewalls mean? And do you ever wonder if it’s info that could help when it came to taking car of your car or truck? If only you knew what it all meant! Well, now you can because…
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The Perils of Vapor Lock: What You Need to Know
Understanding Vapor Lock: How It Affects Your Car or Truck Do you have an older vehicle that you’re trying to keep in good shape? Because, just like those who value the craftwork at the Makers Market at the East Petersburg Civic Ground Community Park, we also value the craftmanship in our vintage vehicles. So, it’s…
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The Best Thing to Know About the Summer Heat and Your Tires
How Extreme Summer Heat Affects Your Car’s Tires and How to Tell if You Need to Replace Them Eww Wee, it’s hot! And it doesn’t look at if it’s going to end anytime soon. In fact, we in Lancaster are under yet another heat advisory today and Wednesday. So, it’s obvious: Summer is here! And…
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Your Car’s Oxygen Sensor: What it is and Why it’s Important
Understanding Your Car’s Oxygen Sensor: What It Is and How to Tell if It’s Failing A vehicle’s oxygen sensor plays a crucial role in maintaining the best engine performance and minimizing emissions. And understand exactly what it is can go along way to helping you keep your car running efficiently and reduce the risk of…
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Why Your Car or Truck’s Tune-up is Important for Saving $$$
How to Tell Your Vehicle Needs a Tune-Up and Why It’s Important Fun roadside attractions can be found throughout our U.S. towns. And Pennsylvania is know exception. In fact, our very own Harrisburg has a Mini Statue of Liberty right along a stretch of the Susquehanna River. And, it’s a must see family outing. But,…
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Everything You Need to Know About OBD and Your Vehicle
Understanding OBD: On-Board Diagnostics and Its Importance for Your Vehicle You can catch the mystery “39 Steps” at Camp Hill’s Oyster Mill Playhouse this weekend. And if you love a good mystery, you might be considering the mystery of the term OBD that gets thrown around when you visit your local Meineke service center. So,…
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Idling vs. Turning Off Your Engine: Your Best Options
The Pros and Cons of Idling vs. Turning Off Your Engine and Restarting It When it comes to deciding whether to idle your engine or turn it off and restart it, the answer isn’t always straightforward. Because, various factors, including environmental impact, fuel consumption, and engine wear, need to be considered. So in this blog,…
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Pennsylvania’s Emissions Test: The Best Guide to Passing
Understanding Pennsylvania’s Emissions Test Standards: A Guide to Passing Pennsylvania’s emissions test standards are designed to ensure that vehicles meet environmental regulations aimed at reducing air pollution. And as a vehicle owner in Pennsylvania, Meineke in Mechanicsburg share what you need to know about these standards and how to pass your vehicle emissions test. What…
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The Best Tips on How to Maximize Your Car’s Fuel Efficiency
Maximizing Fuel Efficiency: Tips for Your Car or Truck It’s a fact! Gas prices are often higher in York County than other parts of Pennsylvania; sometimes they’re up… sometimes they’re down. But, at a time when fuel prices are constantly fluctuating, getting the absolute best fuel efficiency in your vehicle is important. And, not just…
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The “Must Knows” About Your Car’s Shock Absorbers & Struts
Maintaining and Protecting Your Vehicle’s Shock Absorbers and Struts ‘Honoring Our Heroes’ is an event to highlight our Hanover emergency, medical and military workers. And, just as every town needs these unsung heroes to ensure our community runs smoothly; so too does our cars and truck need the unsung heroes of our suspension system to…
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OEM Parts: What That Means and Why Knowing Matters
Understanding OEM Parts: What Your Mechanic Means and Why It Matters New Freedom residents who’d like to lean a new language can do so for FREE with their York County Libraries card. Because they can access the language-learning system via the York County Library Resources page. And though understanding a new language may help in…
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The Best Way to Keep Your Car’s Timing Belt in Top Condition
The Importance of Timing Belt Inspections During Regular Car Maintenance Maintaining your vehicle is all about ensuring that all the critical parts in your car, truck, or Jeep are functioning correctly. And just like our York county railroads are a critical part our Pennsylvania history, equally critical to the health of your engine is your…
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The Best Way to Keep Your Car’s Fuel Lines Healthy
The Causes and Prevention of Brittle and Cracked Car Fuel Lines Fuel lines are a critical part of a vehicle’s fuel system. Because, they are responsible for transporting fuel from the tank to the engine. But, over time, these lines can become brittle and prone to cracking. And this can lead to fuel leaks, engine…
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What You Need to Know About How to Prevent a Cracked Engine
What It Means When a Car Engine is Cracked and What to Do About It Imagine this: you were heading toward York Habitat ReStore to donate some old items that you no longer need in honor of World Upcycling Day. But, on the way your car started smoking and then began to overheat. And what…
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The Dos & Don’ts of Adding Aftermarket Parts to Your Vehicle
What You Need to Know About Adding Aftermarket Parts to Your Pick-Up Truck or Jeep Sometimes, we like to hit the highway and enjoy the feel of the open road in our ride or die: our Jeep or Pick-up Truck. And this is especially true after last weeks major power outage that left us wanting…
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What You Need to Know About Heatwaves and Your Car
How Hot Weather Affects Your Car or Truck and How to Protect Your Vehicle High heat and humidity continue into the weekend in Lancaster county with feels like numbers near 100 degrees. And as temperatures soar, it’s not just humans who feel the heat; our vehicles also bear the brunt of the summer sun. So,…
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Your Engine’s Lead Player: The Camshaft | Meineke Lancaster
Understanding Your Vehicle’s Camshaft: Function and Maintenance Lancaster County’s very own native Jonathan Groff has won a Tony Award for his performance in “Merrily We Roll Along.” And just as he is the lead in this Broadway performance, so too is the camshaft the lead in your engine’s performance. But, for many this part is…
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Your Car’s Shock Absorbers and Struts: What You Need to Know
Maximizing the Life of Your Car’s Shock Absorbers and Struts: Dos and Don’ts Here in Dauphin County, we recognize the value of our local heroes and the role they play in keeping our community running smoothly. For example, two officers in Harrisburg’s neighboring township of Swatara were just honored with awards for their life-saving efforts.…
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Your Car’s Super Team: Wheels, Tires and Suspension
How Your Car’s Wheels, Tires, and Suspension Work Together to Keep You Moving Safely Tomorrow is Father’s Day! And our Harrisburg community offers a lot to do to celebrate with your favorite guy. Dad is a team player when it comes to keeping things running smoothly down life’s highway. In fact, he’s kind of just…
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The Importance and Coordination of Your Car’s Timing Belt
Understanding Your Vehicle’s Timing Belt: What It Does and Why It’s Crucial It’s a vague name: Timing Belt. Yet what it does and why it’s important should be anything but. Because, when it comes to vehicle maintenance, there are a few components that are critical to your car’s performance. But, the timing belt is one…
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Everything You Need to Know About Your Car’s Water Pump
Understanding Your Vehicle’s Water Pump: What It Does, Why It’s Important, and How to Maintain It Yes, this Hershey spring weather is cool, but we will be seeing significant warming beginning Wednesday. And this will lead to highs in the low 90s by Friday. So, by the end of the week, it won’t just be…