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.
The South Carolina State Fair is coming to Columbia, SC Oct. 9-20 and celebrating a BIG anniversary. How big of an anniversary you ask? Well, how about 150 years! Whether you are two or eighty-two, the SC State Fair offers something for all ages. From rides to food to pigs racing for Oreos, you don’t want to miss out on the fun!
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
You know it’s time for spring in Columbia when the last freeze has finally passed and your memories of the St. Patrick’s Day festivities start to fade. Your flowers, that you decided to plant when it was 80 degrees outside, didn’t quite make it to spring, but that doesn’t squash your excitement for all the spring events that come with warmer weather. Whether you are interested in food, fitness, or just plain fun, get out your calendar and start saving the dates for these spring events in Columbia.
Tartan Day South
From Celtic music to classic British cars, the Tartan Day South Highland Games and Celtic Festival on Saturday, March 24th has a lot to offer for all ages. Grab some traditional food and drink and cruise over to watch the sheep dog herding, archery, swordplay, or the Quidditch tournament. Gates at the Historic Columbia Speedway open at 8:30am and you could easily spend all day enjoying the variety of activities, vendors, and presentations. Just remember to bring cash for parking and tickets if you aren’t buying online. Kids 12 and under are free.
Soda City Fitness Festival
Make your way downtown for the 2nd Annual Soda City Fitness Festival on Saturday, March 31st. Not only is this festival free, but it helps raise money for Camp MATES, a nonprofit sports, social skills and nutrition camp for kids with autism and other developmental disabilities. There will be 30 minute workouts provided by Rooted in Wellbeing yoga, barre3, Orangetheory Fitness Columbia, and many more in Boyd Plaza. Once you’ve broken a sweat, grab some yummy food from Rosewood Market and Deli Primal Gourmet and check out the 20+ fitness and wellness vendors lining Hampton Street.
Food and Wine Festival
For the first time ever, Columbia is hosting a Food and Wine Festival on Sunday, April 15th starting at 11am on Saluda Avenue in Five Points. There will be 40+ restaurants and over 25 beverage stations. From established restaurants like Motor Supply and Mr. Friendly’s to newbies like The Grand on Main and The War Mouth, chefs will be serving up delicious bites. Don’t miss out on the chef presentations and beverage seminars going on throughout the festival. The Soda City Brass Band will be performing while you make your way through all the amazing smells and sites. Tickets are available online through FreeTimes.
Springtime brings us out of hibernation and invites us to explore and enjoy events in our capital city. Get ready to explore Columbia this spring and save the date for all these exciting events. Here are some other events happening this spring:
March 31: Crawfish Boil at World of Beer
April 7: SC Taco Festival at Historic Columbia Speedway
April 12-15: Indie Grits Festival at Nickelodeon Theatre
April 14: World Famous Hip Hop Family Day at City Center on Main Street
Columbia International Festival at SC State Fairgrounds
River Rocks Festival on Williams Street
Soiree on State on State Street
April 21: Kinetic Derby Day on Meeting & State Streets
April 28: Back to the Roots Festival at City Roots
Taste of Africa Festival at Lake Carolina
As the flowers bloom and our winter coats get put away, let’s enjoy what Columbia has to offer us this spring. And since you will be out and about driving to all these spring events, make sure you stop by Godwin Motors for your Spring Maintenance Check and let us know which event you are heading to next or one we need to add to the list.
I know you’ve experienced this situation. You get in the car. Then you put your phone on the console. Next, you move to get situated and that’s when it happens. Your phone slips off the console and falls between the seat and your console. You then let out a frustrated sigh as you try to squeeze your hand down to find your phone. Now this is where it gets interesting, almost nostalgic. You bring your hand back up grasping a pen, some hair, a morsel or two of food, and those ear buds you thought you lost. Yes, this is the moment you think to yourself, “When was the last time I detailed my car?”
When most people think of auto detailing, they think of cleaning the inside of their vehicle. Vacuuming the carpet, wiping down the console and dash, and putting up one of those scented tree deodorizers. Auto detailing consists of so much more. At Godwin Motors, we keep your vehicle for the day because of the amount of care we put in to making sure your car or truck is pristine on the inside and outside. Here are details about what our auto detailing package includes for $165:
Interior Process
Exterior Process
Now, you might think that going over to the gas station and driving through the automated car wash and then using the vacuum for as long as your quarters last should be enough, but it’s not. Some automated car washes can actually damage your paint job because it doesn’t use enough water or the brushes that clean your car have too much dirt stuck to them. It is recommended to use pressurized car washes that just use water and soap with no contact at all, meaning nothing lands on your car’s surface except soap and water. The vacuuming you do is not getting rid of all the dirt, scum, and germs in your car and we all know that the gas station vacuum can’t reach in those hard-to-reach areas. It’s worth it to invest a little more money into detailing your vehicle the right way at Godwin Motors. It’s easy to schedule an appointment on our website. Detailing your car at least twice a year will increase your car’s resale value and help your car look newer for longer.
A new year can bring a fresh start, resolutions, and new goals. Whether you are going to eat healthier, save more money, or find more time for family, you have mapped out some sort of plan on how to do those things in 2020. Just as we want to take care of our bodies and maintain a healthy lifestyle, our vehicles need the same kind of attention. The start of a new year is the perfect time to review a maintenance checklist for your vehicle. A checklist will help you schedule maintenance throughout the year and budget for some of the pricier items your car or truck may need. Then you can stick to “being a better car owner” this year!
Car maintenance doesn’t mean you have to go to a mechanic. Some of these items are things you can do yourself and are hassle-free. Here are some maintenance items you should check every 3-6 months:
Ensure Your Horn Works: There are people that never use their horn and would never know it wasn’t working until they needed it. Honk your horn ever so often to ensure it works.
Check for Fluid Leaks: Simply checking your garage floor or driveway for fluid puddles or stains can indicate a fluid leak.
Check Headlights for Damage: Make sure both headlights are working properly and make sure there are no cracks or darkened areas.
Check Tire Pressure: Newer cars have tire pressure monitoring systems that will alert you if your tire pressure goes below the expected level. If you have an older car without a TPMS, you can check with a tire pressure gauge or stop by a gas station that has one. It’s a good idea to check your tire tread and sidewalls at the same time.
Windshield and Wipers: Examine your windshield for any cracks and replace your windshield wipers if needed. Your washer fluid will need to be topped off as well.
Check Coolant Level: Add more if necessary.
Oil & Filter Change: Changing your oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles keeps your engine running smoothly.
Your owner’s manual can be a good guide to specific procedures and provide you with a vehicle repair list, but you’ll need to make sure to get these checked off your list every 6-12 months:
Brake Inspection: Don’t take chances with your brakes! Get them checked even if there aren’t any signs there’s something wrong.
Examine Your Spare Tire: Have you checked to see if you even have a spare tire? If you do, check the condition of the tire for any damage.
Check All Fluid Levels: This includes oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and power steering fluid.
Detail Your Vehicle: If you’re not in the habit of cleaning your car regularly than you’ll need a full detail (inside and out). This will help maintain the value of your car.
Polish Windshield and Headlights: You don’t realize how much dust and grime get layered onto your windshield and headlights. You’d be amazed at how this can reduce your visibility at night and in the rain.
Rotate Tires: You want to make sure your tires are wearing evenly to reduce damage and last longer.
AC Inspection: Don’t sweat it! Help keep your system running smoothly and operating efficiently.
The experienced team at Godwin Motors has all the knowledge and the training that they need to operate on your vehicle and help you check these items off your list. We can do it all from oil changes, brakes and tires to transmission diagnosis. If you don’t know if it’s time for a bigger service item, like replacing an engine or timing belts or a tune-up, give us a call and we’ll be glad to let you know when to schedule that service. Head into the new year with a new appreciation for your vehicle!