Johnson City Auto Repair

Now that the stores are starting to play holiday music, get ready for more holiday travel! With Christmas coming up, you’ll need to make sure your family vehicles are ready to safely drive over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house. Here are five things you can do to make sure your family is ready to safely travel to see family and friends this holiday season: Brake Service Brakes are super important for safety. Be sure your brake pads, rotors, and calipers are in great condition before you begin your road trip. You’ll never know what kind of heavy traffic and weather-related road conditions you’ll encounter while traveling during the holidays. Windshield Wiper Replacement If you cannot see clearly out of your windshield, your compromised visibility can be dangerous. Make driving more pleasant by replacing old windshield wipers that skip or smear or show signs of wear. Filter Replacement Your cabin filters help reduce allergens inside the ca ... read more

  At Ponder Auto Repair, we don’t just want to provide auto repair for you. We want to help you have the best relationship with your car that is possible. We want your car to last a long time and for you to truly enjoy the experience of driving it. With winter fast approaching, you’re going to want to take some time to winterize your vehicle. What is winterizing? Don’t worry--we can help. Here are a few reasons why winterizing your vehicle is so smart: Save Money Winterizing means maintenance and maintenance saves you money in the long term. Bringing your vehicle in for regular checkups and getting it ready for winter means that you can get ahead of major repairs you might need. Knowing what repairs are coming up means not being blindsided by a huge auto repair bill, which is a win for everyone!  Shed Some Light On The Matter  Winterizing will involve checking your lights. With darkness setting in earlier and staying with us longer, it is even more cr ... read more

It’s October again: the boots are out, the pumpkin spice is everywhere, and there’s a crispness in the air...and that means, it’s time to start planning for Halloween! Here in Johnson City, there are plenty of opportunities for Trunk or Treat. Here are a few of our favorite ideas! For something super kid-friendly, how about a big-mouthed frog?! This adorable guy can hold a trunk’s worth of candy, and he’s unlikely to scare anyone.  There’s no place like home...unless you can manage to rig together a super-slick Wizard of Oz setups like this one, replete with Dorothy and the Scarecrow:   Next up, we have an adorable recreation of Andy’s room in Toy Story:  Last, an awesome rendition of Lightning McQueen and Mater!    Now, it’s your turn! Do you have any great Trunk or Treat car costumes to share? Let us know, and don’t forget to schedule any auto repairs with Ponder Auto Repair! Remember to stay safe t ... read more

Shocks, struts, and suspension, oh my! Lots of our customers are overwhelmed by these terms, but really, with Ponder Auto Repair as your trusty auto repair shop, it’s no mystery at all. Read on to get our best tips for taking care of your suspension! First of all, the very best way to take care of your suspension system is with regular auto repair and maintenance. Your auto mechanic at Ponder Auto Repair can help you get on a good schedule that fits your car’s needs, the amount of wear and tear your vehicle experiences and the age of your car. Older car’s suspension systems need a little extra TLC to keep going, but newer cars can benefit from regular care as well, and it may just improve the life of your vehicle! What are some warning signs to look for?  Bumpy rides: All’s NOT well that ends well if you are feeling every bump in the road. If your tailbone is a little extra sore from feeling every single bump on the freeway or city roads, then you defini ... read more

Swans look their best while shuttling their kids around...your car deserves the best too! School is starting soon, which means the family taxi service is back in business! Make sure your kiddos can get to their soccer games and ballet practice on time by preparing your car for the fall. Grab that iced coffee and read on for tips... First, check the tires! Get your tire alignment checked, and have the tires rotated if necessary. Have the guys at Ponder Auto Repair check for any slow leaks, screws or nails, and inspect the overall health of your tires. This is especially important to do as the rainy and snow seasons approach. Next, get your oil changed. Oil changes need to occur every 3,000 miles, and the average American drives about 1,000 miles a month. That means that if you got your oil changed in June and took a summer roadtrip...you’re due, home skillet! But don’t stop there--have your oil filters changed as well. Is your engine jerking? Does it have reduced power ... read more

July 4th is around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with family and friends? There are lots of events in and around Johnson City that are fun and worthy of attention.   If you want to cool off and get the kids some exercise, then drive over to Legion, TN, where the city hosts an annual 4th of July pool party! From 10:45am-5pm, you can splash, play, and swim to your heart’s content. There is food and music as well!   If you’re looking for something a little more historically based, check out the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Rocky Mount--Piney Flats, where you can also hang ribbons in the Liberty tree.   Of course, we can’t mention the 4th without mentioning the Pepsi Independence Day Parade in Johnson City! This parade has been going on for over 30 years and begins at 5 pm at Freedom Hall. Activities include vendors, crafts, food, and live entertainment, in addition to a great fireworks show around 9:55 pm. The l ... read more

We are almost finished with spring, which means it is time to start planning for summer break, and our team at Ponder Auto Repair is here to help. We have compiled a list of the best spring break vacations within driving distance of Johnson City, TN. If you are interested in planning a family-friendly, memorable spring break, keep reading. Blackberry Farm: This picturesque farm, complete with 9,200 acres of beautiful landscape, is entirely the getaway. Stay at one of the idyllic cottages on this property and enjoy the farm-to-the-table cuisine. Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel: This fun, family-friendly hotel is located at the old Terminal Station and includes many activities of the same theme, including Chattanooga Choo Choo trolley and 48 authentic Victorian train cars. Deer Ridge Mountain Resort: This resort offers the best of both worlds: stunning landscape and outdoors located in Great Smoky National Park, along with lovely and secluded cottages. Gatlinburg: If you are searchin ... read more

Summer is here! The kids are out of school and everyone is itching to get outside. We all want to get that summer body: toned and strong for such adventures as rafting, fishing, or a game of catch with the kids. Here at Ponder Auto Repair in Johnson City, TN, we’ll help you get your car’s body ready for summer as well! Get your car in shape for summer by taking a look at your tires and brakes. Tires and brakes may need to be replaced after the long winter months so that they’ll serve you well on those weekend fishing trips or the drive to see the baseball game. You wouldn’t hit the hiking trails in old flip flops with holes in them, so why take a road trip with bald tires and brakes that haven’t had any attention since Christmas? Long trips in hot weather can quickly lead to an overheat. Don’t get caught with your coolant down! Your car works hard to keep you and your family cool in the hot days, so treat it to the best by making sure the coolant ... read more

Spring is here, which means it is time for spring cleaning. And our team at Ponder Auto Repair doesn’t want you to forget about your vehicle. After dealing with the dredges of winter, it is the perfect time to reward your car with a little extra TLC. Here are a few quick tips on how to spring clean your vehicle:   Toss the junk. During the winter time, we tend to go into hibernation mode and stock our car with winter supplies. Use this time to get rid of all that unnecessary stuff. Vacuum every nook and cranny in your vehicle to eliminate all those crumbs, dirt, and fur.   Wash the exterior. Get the exterior of your vehicle sparkling in that spring sun. n Brighten up those headlights. Headlights are one of your first defenses against mother nature, and they can grow hazy with dirt and debris. Scrub off any grime. Have you ever heard of the saying “April showers bring May flowers?” If you have, then you know there are some spring storms in store for ... read more

If you want to protect the ones you love, you do your best to remove or reduce their safety risks, right? Well, what about showing some love to your vehicle, too?   If you love your car, truck, SUV, van, or fleet vehicle, give it some tender loving care with preventative maintenance. When you service your personal and fleet vehicles with preventive maintenance, they can operate their best, help you and your passengers travel with less risk, and reliably transport you for many years to come.   Here are ten benefits of preventive auto maintenance:   With preventive maintenance, you lower your overall maintenance costs. You protect your investment and tend to have higher resale rates when buyers know you took exceptional care of your vehicle. Preventative maintenance reduces the risk of breakdowns that could cause you to miss work, miss an important meeting, or be late seeing your child’s sports or musical performance. By providing preventive maintenance on y ... read more