Monthly Archives: June 2022

Meter with engine light On

Why You Shouldn’t Panic When Your Check Engine Light Comes On

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Posted in Godwin Service Center

You’re driving on the highway and your check engine light comes on and you panic. The first thing that might come to mind is, am I going to make it to where I’m going? Next, price of the possible repair and lastly, I can’t afford this right now. Remain calm, and try to stop the urge to panic. There are many reasons why your check engine light may have came on and most are fairly simple fixes.

More than likely, it’s not that serious

There are many different reasons why your check engine light may have came on and it’s mostly very inexpensive to fix. According to CarMD, the five most common check engine repairs are:

  • O2 sensor (part of the emissions system, monitoring and helping adjust the air-fuel mixture)
  • Loose gas cap (which will cost you nothing to fix)
  • Mass air flow sensor (monitoring the amount of air mixed in the fuel injection system)
  • Ignition Coil Packs (which are a little more expensive to replace)
  • Catalytic converter

You may not know what any of these things are, but that’s why you should visit a well trusted service department like Godwin Service, Godwin Motors’ in-house full-service center. You can easily set an appointment to check your engine light at http://www.godwinmotors.com/schedule-car-maintenance-or-auto-repair-columbia-sc.

Easily Diagnosed

Technology makes it easier to diagnose these types of issues. Today, most cars are equipped with an onboard computer system that is responsible for controlling things like the fuel injectors, spark plugs, the steering system and more. Godwin Service can easily tell you what the problem is with a diagnostic computer system. You can either call Godwin Service (803.252.8774) or set up an appointment online at www.godwinmotors.com to get your diagnostic as soon as possible.

Next time your engine light comes on, don’t panic. More than likely, it’s just a easy fix and most importantly inexpensive.

Meter with engine light On

2018 4th of July Fireworks and Events in Columbia SC

What’s there to do this 4th?

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Posted in Community

2018 4th of July Fireworks and Events in Columbia SC

It’s here! America’s birthday is always a fun time to celebrate with friends and family as we honor our country’s history and quest for independence. Lighting off fireworks is a tradition that hasn’t ceased to impress, and we’re excited to see what comes of them heading into Independence Day 2018. Take a look at some of the 2018 4th of July fireworks and events happening in Columbia SC! Read the rest of this entry >>

hand holding a green gas pump handle to fill car

Save More Fuel!

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Tips for Increasing Fuel Economy

We’re always looking for different ways to save money, and this might be the easiest one yet. Drivers are trending toward vehicles with higher fuel efficiency and automakers are answering the call. If you’re stuck with a car that doesn’t get as good of MPGs as you’d like, there are some measures you can take to change that. Check out these tips for increasing fuel economy! Read the rest of this entry >>

Sales Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax Increase in South Carolina on July 1, 2017

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Posted in Godwin Motors

A notice to Godwin Motors customers:

South Carolina currently charges a vehicle sales tax of 5% with a maximum of $300 on the sale or lease of motor vehicles, boats, aircraft, and motorcycles. This SC sales tax cap of $300 has been in place since 1984. Both Georgia and North Carolina have since removed this cap. Georgia charges the sales tax on vehicles, which is 7 percent in most counties, while North Carolina charges a 3 percent highway use tax.

South Carolina will change this cap to $500 on July 1, 2017 costing you an additional $200 to purchase a vehicle. This can be as much as $9 per month if you are financing your purchase.

The time to act is now! If you purchase a vehicle before July 1 you will enjoy up to a $200 savings.

Have you purchased from Godwin Motors in the past? Did you know about Godwin Motors loyalty program? We lower your interest rate by 3% with each consecutive purchase. That is on average a savings of $600 when financing with us. What does all this mean to you? Purchase a new to you vehicle from Godwin Motors before July 1, 2017 and save up to $800.

View our inventory on the web at www.godwinmotors.com, give us a call at 803.252.8774 or stop by our West Beltline Blvd. lot. Let us help you.

Sources:
http://www.scnow.com/news/state/article_9462e73e-8732-5b7e-9aff-25b2d2a9b2f2.html
https://dor.sc.gov/tax/max-tax

Man checking the car battery

Signs You Have a Dead Car Battery

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Posted in Godwin Service Center

Monday morning is not the day to discover your car battery is dead. Monday is always the day that you’re rushing around, you can’t consume enough coffee to revive yourself from your weekend coma, and traffic is always a mess. Add a dead battery to the mix and you know the start to your week has just gone from busy to a standstill. So, how do you even know the reason your car isn’t starting is due to a dead battery? There are signs to help diagnose whether your car battery is dead.

Read the rest of this entry >>

Car key with dollars

Vehicle Financing Made Easy

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Posted in Godwin Service Center

Vehicle Financing Made Easy

Godwin Motors buys, sells, services and rents vehicles to fulfill all your automobile needs and is Columbia, SC oldest Buy-Here-Pay-Here dealership. Our own in-house vehicle finance department provides customers with on the spot financing. Our goal is to have your loan approved and riding in your car in less than one hour. Here are a few simple steps to follow to make car buying and car financing easy for you.

  1. Fill out our easy online vehicle financing application by clicking here
  2. View our inventory by clicking here or visit us at 4032 West Beltline Blvd.
  3. One of our sales staff will contact you – usually within 2 hours of credit application submission during normal business hours.
  4. Bring needed documentation to Godwin Motors:
    • Driver’s License
    • Utility bill from your address
    • 2 recent pay stubs from your job
    • Down Payment
  5. Test Drive
  6. Complete the paperwork. Our goal is to make the approval and paperwork process less than one hour of your time!
It’s a popsicle party!

IT’S A POPSICLE PARTY AT GODWIN MOTORS IN COLUMBIA Celebrating the dealership’s 35 years in business

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Posted in Godwin Motors

Godwin Motors of Columbia will celebrate 35 years in business by serving up 350 hand-made popsicles to families on Thursday, October 1st from 4:00 – 5:30pm at their dealership, 4032 West Beltline Blvd Columbia, SC 29204.

Families can drive up and choose a strawberry or oreo pre-packaged, hand-made popsicle, per person, handed to them in their vehicle. La Paletta Bar, a local small business also owned by a former employee of Godwin Motors, will be providing the popsicles. Popsicles will be provided first come, first serve until they are gone.


“We wanted to celebrate with the families who have supported us throughout the past 35 years, but also be good stewards of the socially distant times right now,” said Luke Godwin, General Manager and Owner of Godwin Motors. “Our dealership and service center would not be here today if it wasn’t for our customers who put their trust in our company for their car buying and service experiences.” 

Godwin Motors will also donate two vehicles to The Cooperative Ministries’ Auto Program as part of their 35 year celebration this fall. To date, Godwin Motors has donated eight vehicles over the past two years.

To contact Godwin Motors for a statement, please call (803) 252-8774 and ask for Luke Godwin.  www.godwinmotors.com

SC Tax Free Weekend Means Saving on School Supplies

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Posted in Columbia, SC News, Community

As the end of July draws closer, and Halloween decorations start popping up, we all know the start of school and SC Tax Free Weekend will be here soon. And what question is on your mind when it comes clear that the kids are heading back to school? Let’s all say it together. Where should I shop for school supplies? There are so many options, but the real question is whether you’ll splurge on the brand name glue sticks or stick to generic.

Read the rest of this entry >>

2016 Toyota Sequoia vs 16 chevy suburban

Compare the Toyota Sequoia vs. Chevrolet Suburban

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Posted in Godwin Motors

Compare the Toyota Sequoia vs. Chevrolet Suburban

Are you looking for a full-size SUV, but you don’t know what make or model to purchase? Love the Tahoe, but it’s a bit too pricey. You may want to look at a few other models like a Chevrolet Suburban or a Toyota Sequoia. Each provide exceptional power and interior capacity, as well as impressive styling and tech. Here I will provide you with some information and thoughts from professionals on their take on the vehicle.

Safety and Warranty
The Suburban and Sequoia are matched when it comes to basic safety amenities. Both include features like full airbag systems, traction and electronic stability control, available blind spot warning systems, and daytime running lights. The Suburban comes with OnStar connectivity. The Suburban also has available safety features that the Sequoia doesn’t offer. These include crash imminent braking, full-time four wheel drive, collision warning, hill descent control, and cross-path warning. The Sequoia Limited has six airbags, but the Suburban 1500 LT is missing the driver’s lower airbag. Both have the usual brakes and child door locks that comes standard. The Sequoia has rollover resistance which is 1.7 times safer than the Suburban.

Fuel Efficiency and Cost
Whether you choose the two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive option for your new large SUV vehicle, the Suburban has the edge when it comes to fuel economy and range. The Suburban offer a fuel economy of 13 city mpg /17 highway mpg, while the Sequoia achieves up to 16 city mpg/23 highway mpg. You’ll also be able to go longer between fill ups with the Suburbans larger fuel tank capacity, which holds 4.6 additional gallons. The 2017 Suburban 1500 LT has a reasonable price ($45,795), while the 2017 Sequoia Limited is more expensive ($55,240.)

Power and Payload
If your goal is to tow and haul cargo, the Suburban has a clear edge. The Suburban’s maximum trailer towing rating exceeds the Sequoia by 900 pounds. The Suburban’s standard and maximum payload capacities are both 1796 pounds. The Sequoia is rated at 1250 pounds standard and 1350 pounds maximum. The Sequoia Limited is fairly powerful with a 381 Horsepower at 5,600 RPM, while a suburban has a 321 HP 5,400 RPM.

Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The Suburban offers optional seating for nine passengers, whereas the Sequoia is limited to eight seats.
The Sequoia Limited’s standard folding rear seat will get you extra cargo room; not available on the Suburban 1500 LT.

Both SVU’s give drivers access to the power, performance, and interior capacity they want. Your needs determine which one is the better choice for you. If you need seating for up to nine and the towing capacity to haul a small house, the Suburban might be a good choice for you. If you still want plenty of room for eight and additional horsepower to the rear wheels, the Sequoia might be the right choice. Which one would you choose?