A car can’t start without a battery. Every fuel-powered vehicle needs a battery to operate the starter motor and get you on your way. In general, a car battery should last for 4 to 6 years, but here are some quick tips to get the longest life out of your battery. How Long Should A Car Battery Last?  Can’t start your car? We can help! Call Frank’s at (215) 355-8877. There are many factors that affect the life of a battery. If you leave your car lights on or your alternator isn’t charging your battery correctly you may find you are unable to start your car. A bad electrical connection in a car’s wiring can also cause a car battery charge and lifetime to decrease. Sometimes a battery can even go bad on its own. Don’t worry though, our replacement batteries come with a warranty for 30 months of free replacement!  Can A Car Battery Be Tested? Yes. Whenever we perform a routine servic ... read more

With the holidays wrapping up and the new year upon us it’s important to turn over a new leaf in terms of sustainability for 2022. Frank’s Servicenter is always environmentally conscious and wants to give you some Christmas waste tips for a sustainable end of the holiday season. Sustainable Holiday Ideas Frank’s is proud to be a sustainable auto shop. Schedule your service today! Everyone loves to make over their home and living spaces for the winter season. It’s a wonderful way to increase the level of cheer, but what happens to all those little lights and tinsels when all is said and done? Try donating decorations to a local senior center or after-school program to reduce the amount of Christmas waste heading to the landfills. Recycling Holiday Lights This can be a tricky subject. There are older style Compact Fluorescent lights that can’t be just tossed into a recycling bin out the back door. G ... read more

In our daily lives we’re on the road a lot. Whether it’s for work or fun, we have a lot of places to go. So what do you do if your car stops working!? Don’t panic. You just need a tow and Frank’s has all the info you need to get your car in for service and back on the road again. How To Get Your Car Towed Car not working? Call Frank’s to have your questions answered! (215) 355-8877 Maybe you got in an accident, maybe you have a car that’s been sitting awhile or maybe your car just won’t start; either way Frank’s Servicenter is here to guide you through the process. Our auto techs and service staff have seen the whole gamut of car issues and can walk you through what needs to be done step by step. Even after hours you can call us and our 24-hour answering service will help you reach the option you need. Should You Drive Your Car To A Mechanic Instead Of Towing? If you’re thinking, “How can ... read more

Has the handling and comfort of your vehicle felt a bit off lately? If so, you are most likely facing a problem with your suspension system, specifically with your struts and shocks. If you want to be sure before making an appointment with our suspension repair shop in Southampton, PA, you can test it right at home using the bounce test.  What Is The Bounce Test? How To Tell Your Suspension Needs Repair The bounce test is a quick and easy test that does not require additional equipment, tools, or skill, for that matter. Please follow these steps to do the bounce test: Make sure your vehicle is parked on a flat and even surface. Start by heading to one of the corners of your car. (You're going to do one corner at a time) In a swift motion, push down on the corner as hard as possible with your body weight and then lift off it.  Observe how your car responds after step 3. If it jumps once, then the shock has some wear. It w ... read more

Have you ever felt like you can’t have enough batteries? Whether it’s replacing those in the TV remote or just charging your phone every night, we all need power. So does your car. A car’s battery helps start the motor, but eventually all batteries lose a charge and you don’t want to get stranded when yours does. Why Is My Car’s Battery Dead?  Having trouble starting your car? Call Frank’s at (215) 355-8877. Now that it’s colder outside you definitely don’t want to find out that your car won’t start because of a dead battery. There are a few things that can affect the life of a battery or cause it to lose power all at once. Here’s a quick list: - Lights left on - Alternator isn’t charging - Extreme temperatures - Parasitic Drain (losing electricity to an unwanted part of the car) - Dirty/corroded terminals - Not using your car for an extended period of time Any of these situations may require a jump st ... read more

In order to start your car’s engine it needs a battery, but what do you do if your battery’s dead and your car won’t start? One solution is a jump start. So here’s a step-by-step guide to successfully jump starting a car. How To Jump Start A Car This skill is right up there with being able to cook. It’s super useful (and kind of impressive!). So let’s get down to the nitty gritty... What You Need To Jump Start A Car If your car doesn’t start, call Frank’s at (215) 355-8877. A jump start is when you use one car’s battery to give another’s enough power to get it started. All you need is two vehicles and a set of jumper cables to transfer the electricity. Keep in mind though, that there are many kinds of motors with many different batteries. A huge diesel truck’s motor probably can’t be successfully started with the power from a small sedan, but using the diesel truck to start the ... read more

As the days continue to get shorter and the winter season sets in there’s one thing we’d all hate to have happen: your car won’t start. This situation really shows us how much we rely on our vehicles, so how can you handle this scenario and prepare so it doesn’t happen? Why Won’t My Car Start? If your car won’t start, call our service advisors immediately at 215-355-8877. There’s certainly no convenient time to find your car won’t start, but don’t panic! Frank’s can easily arrange a loaner car to keep you moving through your day while we troubleshoot your car. Car Won’t Start: Clicking Probably the most common starting condition that prevents a car’s motor from turning over is a weak or dead battery. If you hear a clicking sound when you turn your key, this could be the case. This sound occurs when the battery doesn’t have enough energy to power the starter. Another sign ... read more

When the holiday music starts playing in stores everyone thinks, “what can I get for my friends and family?” If you need car enthusiast Christmas gifts, Frank’s has some ideas for you! Car Christmas Gifts 2021 Winter weather’s coming. Have Frank’s perform a multipoint inspection for your car. Fortunately car’s need attention, so there’s always a car care Christmas gift or additional accessory you can pick up for the motor head in your life. First, in this age of technology a quick music / speaker gadget is a good go-to. Anker sells a Bluetooth adapter that can turn any radio auxiliary port into a Bluetooth receiver for syncing to any device. This can even be used outside of your car - say if you’re flying home for the holiday. Car Christmas Gifts For Dad Sometimes our memory isn’t the best as we get older - but there’s a tech fix for this too! There’s a handy ga ... read more

Driving is a serious business. One of the biggest things people overlook when it comes to car safety is their tires. An insufficient tread depth will decrease traction and could result in some slippery turns on those winding Bucks County roads. So here’s what you need to know when you need new tires. When To Replace Tires Frank’s will gladly inspect your tires! Schedule online now! Why do tires wear down? There are three major factors: regular wear, Age and Exposure to the elements. The treads of a tire are what give you traction, but both front and back tires wear down over time as you drive. Also, the rubber tires are made of will begin to degrade overtime regardless of mileage. Even if it’s just sitting on a shelf, rubber dries out and becomes brittle (like an old rubber band). Sunlight’s UV rays and harsh driving conditions can increase this process. Signs Of Tire Wear Before you look for new tires ... read more

Sometimes you may ask yourself if you really need a certain car repair, but here’s why Bucks County residents won’t want to skip on a Wheel Alignment. Do I Need A Wheel Alignment? A Wheel Alignment centers your tires in your car’s wheel well and makes sure they contact the road properly. When wheels are properly aligned they point straight allowing for accurate steering, maximum traction, and increased tire life. If your car’s wheels aren’t aligned it may be a little like trying to run with your shoes untied. Not sure if you need an alignment? Come to Frank’s to find out! How To Tell You Need A Wheel Alignment If you’re thinking “a wheel alignment near me is unnecessary because I’m still getting from Point ‘A’ to ‘B’”, you may be wasting money in the long run. Wheel Alignment cost is generally much less than the price of fixing the damage cause ... read more