Car Care Tips

  • Balancing, mounting, and what you need to know about both.

    Tire being serviced in a shop

    There are a few things that matter when mounting new tires on your vehicle. First, you want it done right. Second, you want it done fast. For both, Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC has you covered.

  • Battery Dead? Here Is How You Jump Start Your Vehicle!

    At some point or another, we’ve pretty much all dealt with a dead car battery. There’s a good chance you already know how to jump-start your car - if not, don’t worry! Here’s everything you need to know, from Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC.

  • Common Heater/AC Fan Switch Issues

    hand over aircondition

    At Downtown Automotive in Siler City, we know how important climate control is to your driving experience. Not only does a fully functional heat and AC system keep you warm in the winter, and cool in the summer, it is vital to defrosting windows and keeping the air in your car circulating.

  • Do You Know The Difference Between Gasoline Grades?

    At some point, while waiting for your tank to fill up, you’ve probably wondered what the difference is between the choices of gasoline at the pump. Typically, you see three buttons, with a number between 85 and 98, in ascending order and ascending prices. These numbers are octane ratings, which you probably know; but what is an octane rating, really?

  • Do You Smell One Of These Smells? It's Time To Bring Your Car In.

    girl smelling vents

    If you’ve owned a vehicle long, particularly one with a few miles on it, you have probably encountered a peculiar smell that grabbed your attention. Scents that you encounter while driving (emanating from your vehicle, not the horse farm down the road) are indicators of your vehicle's health and often the first warning that something may be wrong. Downtown Automotive in Siler City has assembled this list to prepare for you for the next time you smell something odd, so you’ll know what’s going on next time you notice a funny smell.

  • Electrical systems issues - what are the symptoms, and what can you do about it?

    mechanic working on auto electrical system

    Every year, vehicle electrical systems get a little more complicated. These days, many cars on the road contain up to a mile of wiring, running throughout every corner of the vehicle. With all those wires, there’s bound to be an issue at some point; Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC is here to help you recognize a potential electrical issue, and know what to do about it.

  • Have you checked your battery? If it looks like this - It's bad!

    corrosive battery in car image

    When you are having trouble with your car or truck starting and you open the hood up to take a peek to see this....you'll see what an overly corroded battery looks like. This happens naturally over time on vehicle battery terminals.  If you are like 99% of normal Siler City drivers, you don't check your oil or your battery so you don't keep an eye on the amount of corrosion that's building up on your car or truck battery.  Here at Downtown Automotive, we do and there are solvents that we can use here in the shop during a battery maintenance service that will help slow the corrosion process but nothing that can prevent it 100%. Way before it gets to this point, we will be suggesting you consider replacing the battery. 

  • How To Retain Your Car’s Resale Value

    car with for sale sign on the window

    If you drive a performance or luxury vehicle, there are important points to remember in preserving not only your car or SUV, but it's resale value as well. Luxury and performance vehicles depreciate more quickly than other cars. Many who own these cars like to have the newest and the best of the best. In that way, the odds are stacked against you when trying to get a good price for your car. Fortunately, Downtown Automotive has some steps you can take to ensure you get the most for your car when it’s time to sell. 

  • How Your Speed Impacts Your Vehicle

    Woman driving a vehicle

    At Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC, we understand that driving style affects your vehicle’s performance and reliability. You probably know that frequent, hard acceleration is bad for your engine and transmission, but what about speed?

  • Is it necessary to warm up your car?

    car on road

    If you drive a performance car or SUV, you want to take every measure possible to ensure it stays in good shape and running well. For many drivers of precision-engineered vehicles like BMW, Audi, Porsche, Subaru, etc., warming up the engine is a part of taking care of your vehicle. But is it necessary?

  • Is your vehicle heater blowing cold?

    heater in car

    The climate control system in your car works hard to keep you at a comfortable temperature. If you’re having heater issues, trust the performance car specialists with us at Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC to get you comfortably back on the road.

  • JASPER - Products You Can Trust

    Dennis Bertles a Navy Seabee Veteran

    At Downtown Automotive in Siler City we provide only the best products to our customers and that’s why we are proud to partner with Jasper Engines and Transmissions. Every day at our shop we provide repairs for a multitude of customers who truly rely on JASPER products to keep their vehicles going strong. Meet Mr. Dennis Bertles, a Navy Seabee veteran and an awesome guy that loves his JASPER products. He depends on JASPER’s 3-year, 100,000-mile warranty and loves the products that they offer.  Mr. Bertles has a Jasper Vortec 5.3L long block engine replacement and a Jasper transfer case replacement in his 2005 Tahoe. Thank you Mr. Bertles for your service to our country and for your dedication to the JASPER brand.

  • Make your tires go the distance and follow these tips

    Tire being balanced in auto shop

    Once your new tires are mounted and balanced, you’ll want to keep them in good shape. To get the most out of your tires, inspect them regularly and keep up with maintenance - the difference between a tire that lasts 100k miles, and one that lasts 10k, mostly comes down to how well it’s been taken care of.

  • New Engine or New Car - Weighing Out Your Options

    Engine Maintenance

    You’ve determined it’s time to get rid of the engine you have, along with all of its issues. You’re probably considering getting something new altogether, and you’re tired of this one giving you issues. Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC is here to help you make the call.

    If your car, truck, or SUV has really been put through the wringer, it might be time for a new one. However, before you decide to throw in the towel there are a few things you should consider.

  • Quality Work for Your Quality Vehicle

    quality car parked

    If you drive a Mercedes, Porsche, Subaru, BMW, Jaguar, or other performance and luxury vehicle, you’re a person who appreciates the value of quality. At Downtown Automotive, we share that appreciation - that’s why we specialize in quality cars and take pride in quality work.

  • Tips for Better Gas Mileage

    fuel gauge on a vehicle

    Your gas mileage mostly depends on what kind of car you drive; engine displacement and vehicle weight are the largest determining factors on gas mileage, and there’s not much you can do to change either of those. That doesn’t mean attempting to improve your fuel economy is a completely hopeless endeavor, however. With these tips from Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC, you might be surprised how much your fuel mileage can be improved.

  • What is an ASE Certified Technician and Why Does it Matter?

    mechanic standing in garage and holding wrench

    At Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC, quality and precision are our top priority. We specialize in well-engineered performance and luxury vehicles like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Land Rover, and Subaru - cars and SUVs that require the right touch. For this reason, we employ ASE certified technicians, to guarantee we’re the best in the business.

  • What should you do if you blow a tire?

    man frustrated leaning on car

    The best way to deal with a blown tire is to prevent it from happening in the first place. However, eventually, a flat tire is going to occur, and it’ll most likely be when you least need it. From Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC, here’s what you need to do.

  • Why is my ABS light on?

    dash lights on in car

    If you drive a Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Subaru, Land Rover, or other luxury or performance vehicle, you’re no stranger to the bells and whistles of the modern automobile. For the past couple of decades, these cars have nearly all been equipped with ABS, or Anti-lock Braking Systems. You may never think about ABS - until the light comes on the dashboard.

  • Why it’s important to always use quality parts

    miscellaneous auto parts against a wall

    When something goes wrong on your vehicle, it can be tempting to take the cheapest route. With eBay, Amazon, and the countless other sources for car and truck parts on the market today, many people decide to go that route to save some money. Here are some points to consider when buying quality automotive parts, from Downtown Automotive in Siler City, NC.

  • Jasper
  • 247towing
  • 24-Hour Dropoff
  • Acdelco
  • Ari Fleet
  • ASE
  • Auto Zone
  • B&W Trailer Hitches
  • BF Goodrich
  • Bosch Automotive
  • Bridgestone Firestone
  • Carquest Direct Hit
  • Cooper Tires
  • Dunlop Tires
  • Element Fleet
  • Enterprise Fleet
  • Goodyear
  • Hankook Tires
  • iATN
  • Loaner Car
  • Michelin
  • Motorcraft Parts
  • NAPA AutoCare Center
  • NFIB
  • Pet Friendly
  • Radiator
  • Reese Hitches
  • State Inspection
  • Tech-net
  • Tires
  • Toyo
  • Valvoline
  • 12 Month Warranty
  • Wifi Available

Downtown Automotive

202 S Chatham Ave
Siler City, NC 27344
Get Directions

location small (919) 742-2365
AFTER HOURS: (919) 842-2606

SHOP HOURS

Weekdays:   8:00am - 5:00pm
Weekends: Closed