Automotive News & Information - Birch's Automotive & Muffler

What does “remanufactured” mean, and is it something you want? At Birch's Automotive & Muffler in Arlington, TN, we strive for great service and a job well done. Part of that is equipping you with the knowledge you need to understand what’s going on when a repair is necessary on your car, truck or SUV. “Remanufactured” is a word that you’ll encounter in the automotive world. Many people perceive that to mean “used”, but that isn’t the case - here’s what you need to know.

man in car smiling at camera with hand on shifter

How long have you been driving? Most people say since they were sixteen years old or even younger. Driving for that long will obviously improve anyone’s driving, but there will always be room for improvement. Whether that’s getting rid of distractions or simply changing how you drive, here are some tips that are sure to better your driving.

On gas engines, the fuel delivery system is pretty simple - an electric pump draws gas from the tank, and pushes it to the injectors. Diesel systems are a little more complex. At Birch's Automotive & Muffler in Arlington, TN, we like to keep you informed about what’s on your truck, how it works, and how to maintain it, so you stay reliably on the road.

Spark plugs have been around since the beginning, and play as important a role now as they did a hundred years ago. It’s a good idea to replace them as a set at regular intervals, but sometimes one will go bad sooner than the rest for one reason or another. How do you know if you have a bad spark plug? Here are some indicators, from Birch's Automotive & Muffler in Arlington, TN.

Unless you are confident in your abilities as an automotive mechanic, there is really only one rule when purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle: don’t do it. Unfortunately, sometimes sellers aren’t particularly straight-forward with their used cars. Many will try to hide the fact that it’s been damaged by floodwaters at all or try to convince potential buyers that the car is in fact fine. “It has gone months with no issues” or “technically it is flood-damaged but” are two red flags, and while it isn’t impossible for a flood car to be fine, it’s altogether a good idea to stay away.

For all the new drivers on the road, young and old, Birch's Automotive & Muffler in Arlington, TN would like to welcome you to the automotive community. Here are a few wise words to live by, to make your entrance into the driving world go as smoothly as possible.

man standing by diesel truck with tools in hand

Currently, the future of electric vehicles looks promising - though it won’t likely replace your Duramax, Powerstroke, or Cummins engine any time soon. Still, we don’t know what the immediate future holds. This battle was waged once before in the past, with combustion engines taking the throne over electric power. Here’s a brief history of electric automobiles, from Birch's Automotive & Muffler in Arlington, TN.

As cars become more technologically advanced, the importance of your vehicle’s battery becomes more important. In the old days, a car battery essentially worked, or it didn’t; if it was good enough to start the car, it was good enough. Moderns vehicles are a different story. A faulty battery can cause a variety of issues, including engine codes, sensor failures, irregular transmission behavior, and the list goes on.

Battery failure often causes issues that are commonly misdiagnosed, and in the hands of the wrong auto repair shop, a mechanic may spend hundreds of your hard-earned dollars chasing problems that don’t exist. At Birch's Automotive & Muffler in Arlington, TN, our mechanics are familiar with modern vehicles and the problems that accompany them.