Category Archives: Godwin Service Center

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

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.

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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!
Loan approved

Convenient Used Car Shopping in Columbia, SC

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Posted in Godwin Service Center

Convenient used car shopping is closer than you think.

At Godwin Motors in Columbia, SC, we are the Midlands oldest buy here pay here car dealership. That means you do not have to wait hours to get approved. With proper documentation, which includes two recent check stubs, your South Carolina driver’s license, and bill of residency, we can have you approved within minutes. And, let you know your down payment and monthly payments up front.

Compared to other corporate car dealerships it can take hours or maybe even days to get approval. This process includes the dealership sending your private information to multiple lenders to see if you qualify. This can consists of the company running your credit multiple times which can affect your credit negatively. At Godwin Motors, if we finance in-house, we do not have to run your credit if you do not want us to do so. We would use the information that you would provide to us such as your monthly net income, length of time at your job and residency to determine your approval. Fast approval is one of our primary goals at Godwin Motors. Most importantly, we finance you, not your credit.

Can’t make it into the dealership and want to know if you can get approved for financing? Godwin Motors has our application online if you aren’t able to come in-house to fill one out (www.godwinmotors.com/financing-made-easy-in-columbia-sc). We are a one-stop shop where we provide car sales, financing, rentals, and even a full-service center.

Godwin Motors makes shopping for your next vehicle very convenient.

On our website, www.godwinmotors.com, you have access to over 40 pictures to view the exterior and interior of our vehicles for sale, as well as the option to look over the CarFax before you step foot into the dealership. Godwin Motors is a CarFax Advantage Dealer, which means you can access the CarFax directly on our website for free.

Along with buying a house, buying your next car can be a stressful event. And, finding a dealership you are comfortable with to purchase your next vehicle may seem impossible. So, don’t take our word for it, listen to our customers. We have over 150 5-star reviews on Google and Facebook with a 4.8 score or higher. Come see how we can help you!

new tires

Do I Need New Tires?

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Posted in Godwin Service Center, Tips and Tricks

You probably don’t inspect your tires very often, but at some point, you’re going to notice the tread and think about new tires. We all want to get the most mileage out of our tires (because let’s get real, tires are expensive) which causes most people to continue to drive on older tires even when they need to be replaced. How long should tires last? And at what point do they become unsafe? There are several signs that show you need new tires. Let us help you recognize when it’s time to buy new ones.

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Man inspecting car

Recommended Regular Used Car Maintenance Schedule

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Posted in Godwin Service Center

Recommended Regular Used Car Maintenance Schedule

Looking to understand what is a recommended regular used car maintenance schedule on a vehicle? Why does it need to be performed? We purchase a vehicle, but don’t always learn how to maintain them to keep them in good working condition, which is very unfortunate.

If your vehicle doesn’t have a proper regular maintenance schedule, it can break down and…well, die. Having a regular maintenance schedule will help prolong the car’s life span. A car is a constant moving machine just like you and me. And, a mechanic to a car is just like a doctor to his patient. So here is a regular maintenance schedule to abide by:

  • Get your oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles
  • Have your tires rotated (usually comes with the oil change)
  • Have your air filter and cabin filter replaced
  • Check the level of all fluids (At Godwin Service, this comes with our oil change)
  • Replace wiper blades
  • Check engine coolant and cooling system for leaks
  • Inspect brake wear, belts and hoses
  • Check pressure in all tires and exhaust systems & lights

Note that different types of vehicles have different types of maintenance needs. And, depending on the driver and how much the vehicle is driven, your needs might be more or less. Godwin Service, Godwin Motors in-house full service center, provides a courtesy check on your battery and maintenance needs. Godwin Service summer or winter maintenance check includes the above items that retail for $119 separately, for only $79. Keep your vehicle running longer. Visit us at www.godwinmotors.com or call to set up an appointment at 803.252.8774.

Hand checking air coolant

Summer Car Maintenance Tips To Know

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Posted in Godwin Service Center

Summer Car Maintenance Tips to Know

Godwin Service will perform all of these summer car maintenance tests and many more for free, whether you purchased the car from us or not. Stop in today or call us to schedule an appointment.

  1. Get your coolant system pressure tested by a qualified shop to determine if it will hold up to the harsh temperatures of the summer.
  2. Get your battery and alternator tested. The summer heat really takes a toll on the battery and charging system.
  3. Check tire tread depth and age. No one wants to be on the side of the road in 100+ degrees changing a tire.

Godwin Motors, Service & Rentals is located at 4032 West Beltline Blvd Columbia SC 29204. Visit us on the web at www.godwinmotors.com or call us at 803-252-8774.

Mechanic Looking Under Hood

Summer Car Maintenance Tips & Checklist

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Posted in Godwin Service Center

With summer on the horizon, it’s extremely important to make sure your car is ready for the season. It’s not so much that summer has difficult road conditions or anything like winter, but typically we do much more driving in the summer because it’s nice out. Plus, you want to make sure to get all the winter off your car if you haven’t already. So, we’ve put together a sort of summer car maintenance checklist filled with tips for what you need to do to get ready. Read the rest of this entry >>

service technicians inspecting a car

Oil Change: Why You Need One Every 3 Months

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Posted in Godwin Service Center

Do You Really Need to Get an Oil Change Every 3 Months or 3,000 Miles?

I want you to picture that little sticker that the mechanic puts on the corner of your windshield. You know which one. The one that tells you when you need to get your next oil change. But how often do you really check it? When it’s just past the date? Or just a couple thousand miles overdue? You may wonder if you really need to be getting that oil change every 3 months or 3,000 miles, but we promise it will keep your vehicle running smoothly and save you money in the long run.

What Is the Point of Oil Changes for Your Car?

Most people think that an oil change is important because it lubricates your engine. This is true. It does that, but it also helps with:

  • cooling your engine to prevent overheating
  • cleaning your engine
  • protecting internal parts
  • sealing combustion chambers
  • absorbing moisture, dust, and combustion byproducts

You wouldn’t believe how many oil changes Godwin Motors’ service center does in a week. We service vehicles in the Columbia, Lexington, Sumter, West Columbia, Dentsville, Elgin, Blythewood, Winnsboro, and all the surrounding areas. Just remember if you’re doing it yourself to change the filter too. Our mechanics change your oil and oil filter at the same time because you don’t want to run clean oil through a dirty filter. It defeats the purpose. We also do the following during your oil change:

  • check tires for wear & tear
  • top off all fluids (wiper, coolant, transmission if applicable)
  • check for leaks (coolant, oil, transmission)
  • consult the customer if needed
Windshield Wiper Cleaning Window

Windshield wiper replacement & other services available in Columbia SC

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Posted in Godwin Service Center

Now that spring is upon us, it’s time to consider getting some of those post-winter services done to your vehicle. Putting your car, truck or utility vehicle through winter is unavoidable, but that doesn’t make it any less taxing on said automobile. That’s why, as soon as you’re through to the other side, it’s important to take care of the things that might have been affected by the harsh seasonal weather. One of the most important things to check after winter is whether or not you need a windshield wiper replacement, but there are plenty of other spring services to consider, and they’re all available right here at Godwin Motors in Columbia SC. Read the rest of this entry >>