Vehicle Maintenance

  • What Can Causes Transmission Failure?

    At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, our priority is keeping your transmission shifting smooth and running strong for years to come. While proper maintenance, driving habits, and a myriad of other conditions affect the life and reliability of a transmission, there are also ways to increase the overall efficiency of your unit, even above stock performance.

  • What Do Mechanics Have To Do With Hydraulics?

    mechanic holding tools

    A huge part of what the hydraulic system in your transmission does is tell the mechanical components what to do and when to do it. Even if you don't understand how that works, our technicians at Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, FL have trained with the best to make sure they understand all the ins and outs of your system. We want you to understand what we're talking about when we talk to you about your vehicle so we'll break down some aspects of your hydraulic system. 

  • What Does a Spark Plug Do?

    spark plug

    Have you always wondered what a spark plug does? Our team here at Nott's Automotive is here to help you out. It's simple in theory but does quite a lot of work for such a small piece of equipment. Your spark plug forces electricity to arc across a gap like a bolt of lightning at high voltage and fits into your engine's cylinder head, where it “sparks” to ignite the fuel and creates combustion within your engine. Without it, you wouldn't be able to drive your car or truck. 

  • What Does That Check Engine Light Mean?

    check engine light on dash image

    It’s a busy morning, you’ve finally gotten everyone where they need to be and you’re just pulling into the parking lot at work when your dash light starts glaring at you. Your check engine light shines bright, but you have no idea why. Whether you can tell a difference in the way your car, truck, or SUV is running, your car is trying to tell you something. At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, FL, we can help!

  • What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Oil?

    sludge in the engine image

    At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, FL, we recommend always making it a priority to change your oil on time. Here’s a look into why it’s so important, and what happens if you don’t keep up with oil changes.

    Sludge - If oil stays in an engine too long, sludge begins to build up anywhere oil can go. The oil absorbs tiny debris and contaminants, kind of like a liquid sponge - once it’s at capacity, that oil begins to stick, clog, and build up throughout the engine. Small veins that carry oil to components like actuators, turbos, and bearings will become blocked, starving critical components of oil and causing component or engine failure.

  • What is a Drive Axle?

    vehicle drive axle

    Do you hear a funny clicking sound when you turn the wheels of your vehicle? It could be your car or truck's CV or Drive Axle, and it may be in need of repair. Safety is the number one priority for our customers here at Nott's Automotive, and it is our goal to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Driving around with a damaged CV Joint or Drive Axle problem can be extremely dangerous. The axle is a structural component that bears the weight of the vehicle, any cargo, and the acceleration forces between you and the ground. It is so important to have your vehicle inspected regularly by a trained automotive repair professional here at Nott's Automotive to ensure its safety.

  • What Is a Shifter Bushing?

    gear shift

    Sometimes your car, truck, or SUV stops performing quite like it used to. At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, we can fix that. A simple but common issue on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission is shifter bushing issues. Your shifter has a bushing on the end of it, where it connects to the actual transmission. Its purpose is to provide tight, smooth shifting. 

  • What Is A Short Throw Shifter

    mechanic

    At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, routine maintenance and repair isn’t the only thing we do. For custom parts installation, you can also count on us. Common modification enthusiasts do is swapping to a short-throw shifter; but what actually is a short-throw shifter, and what does it do?

  • What Is Your Mechanic Looking for In a Used Car Inspection?

    mechanic doing an inspection

    At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, FL, we know buying a used car, truck, or SUV can be a gamble. While there are no guarantees, there are key points of inspection that tell us a lot about the condition of a vehicle and how it has been maintained. There are some important points of the inspection we verify when checking out a used vehicle.

  • What to Know About Your Vehicle's Lights

    Vehicles driving on a highway with headlights on

    All the lights on your vehicle have an important job to do. Brake lights, tail lights, blinkers, reverse lights, and headlights are a crucial part of driving. Lights make you visible, make things visible to you, and allow you to communicate with other drivers. All of a vehicle’s lights make driving easier and safer, and all of them are important...not to mention legally required.

  • What to Look For When Buying a Vehicle

    man holding car keys

    In the market for a new car, truck, or SUV? Used cars aren’t always what they seem; here’s some advice from Nott's Automotive in Sarasota to make sure you get the used car of your dreams.

  • When is it Time to Test Your Vehicle's Battery?

    Mechanic testing a car's battery

    Chances are you don’t pay much attention to your vehicle’s battery until it dies, when you get to perform the dreary dual task of waiting for a jump while simultaneously calling for an appointment to get a new battery fitted. Of course, that’s if you’re sure it’s the battery that’s dead in the first place. The only way to be certain is to take it in to be tested. However, it generally helps to know the health of your vehicle battery prior to finding yourself stranded.

  • When Was The Last Time You Had Your Coolant Flushed On Your Fleet?

    Routine maintenance keeps your fleet trucks safe on the road and protects you against unplanned trips to your local automotive shop! One thing a lot of people forget about is to have their coolant flushed. Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, FL will help you make sure your fleet vehicle is properly flushed every time!

  • Where Did Speed Limits Come From?

    maximum speed 55 sign

    At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, the history of cars is a huge topic of interest to us. Here’s an interesting piece of automotive trivia, from us to you.

  • Why Do Transmissions Break?

    transmission

    Transmissions are complex, and over time they will wear out and eventually break. Knowing what to look for will play a key role in preventing your transmission from failing prematurely. At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, FL we want to give you some insight on how your transmission works and how it can fail.

  • Why do vehicles burn oil?

    oil leak

    When your car, truck, or SUV is burning oil, it can be frustrating and costly. There are numerous reasons an engine will burn oil - these range from an altogether worn out engine to a simple part replacement. At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, FL we want to keep you informed, here's what you need to know about why your engine might be burning oil.

  • Why Does My Transmission Pop Out of Gear?

    transmission

    Manual transmissions are durable, reliable pieces of equipment. Still, sometimes problems arise. Nott's Automotive in Sarasota has the answer to a question that plagues many manual transmissions; why does my transmission pop out of gear?

  • Why is there a puddle under my car?

    Cars, trucks, and SUVs use and create multiple liquid substances. Here’s what you need to know about the puddle of liquid under your vehicle, from Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, FL. There are a few different substances that can pool under an automobile, and some are more serious than others. Knowing what to look for and what to do could save you from hassle with your vehicle in the long run. 

  • Why Is Your Transmission Important

    mechanic with a wrench

    If there’s one thing we know at Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, FL, it's the importance of a transmission. While engines get a lot of the spotlight in conversations about vehicles, we know that the transmission is the unsung hero of your automobile. We want you to know just how important it is, too.

  • Why Is Your Vehicle Draining Your Battery?

    battery light on the dash

    At Nott's Automotive in Sarasota, we know how annoying a dead battery can be. Here’s some information on the subject, that will hopefully help you understand your battery issues a little better.  If your battery dies after your car, truck, or SUV sits for a few hours, the battery itself isn’t necessarily the problem. While having the battery tested is a good place to start, many people mistakenly make a bad battery diagnosis, when actually something in the electrical system is to blame.

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Nott's Automotive

979 S Packinghouse Rd
Sarasota, FL 34232
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Weekdays:   8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekends: CLOSED

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