Engine and Exhaust System

• Oil Change
  We all know that oil changes are an essential part of regular maintenance on our vehicles.  Our car’s engine consists of many moving parts that need to be adequately lubricated. Regular oil changes in (city) protects the engine from damage and helps it run properly.  Oil will breakdown as it picks up dust, grit, and debris from the road and the engine itself. When the oil starts breaking down, it cannot do its job effectively. The result is a costly repair bill.  Get a quote on an oil and filter change in (city) today!
• Engine Tune-Up
• Exhaust System Repair
• Alternator Repair
• Engine Diagnostic
  The OBD System, or On-Board Diagnostics System, was originally installed to monitor vehicle emissions, but it also detects problems within the engine. Both OBD I and OBD II systems exist, with OBD II systems becoming the standard in vehicles manufactured after 1996. The OBD is connected to the engine control unit (ECU), which helps your engine run efficiently while keeping emissions low. The OBD can identify and warn the driver of engine malfunction by sending error notifications to the ECU system. The ECU is in charge of several engine processes, including the mixture of air and fuel, emissions, and engine timing. The ECU uses sensors to monitor them or make adjustments. If the ECU detects malfunctions, it triggers the “check engine” light on the dashboard. The OBD system then records the code pertaining to the problem. The code can be accessed by a trained technician through engine diagnostic equipment in order to properly diagnose the issue.

Transmission and Drivetrain

• Transmission Service
  An automatic transmission service is designed to prevent unexpected failure and to keep your transmission functioning optimally. A few things that can lead to an automatic transmission service include towing heavy loads and insufficient levels of transmission fluid. Checking transmission fluid levels is important for keeping all internal gears and components clean and lubricated. Grinding noises and leaking will alert you to potential problems early. If you notice a burnt smell emanating from your vehicle’s transmission, there may be a problem with your transmission’s ability to retain fluid. A lack of routine maintenance can contribute to automatic transmission trouble. Replacing a transmission can be expensive, so staying on top of automatic transmission repairs and basic maintenance is important for maximizing the life of your transmission.
• Transmission Repair
  What does the transmission do?  The main job of the transmission is to make sure that the wheels have adequate power so the car can travel at a specific speed.
• Transmission Fluid Service
• Axle Repair

Steering and Suspension

• Suspension Service/Repair
  Rice Tire always recommends installing the same size tire chosen by the manufacturer of your Four Wheeler or Side-By-Side.  Of course, if you have made significant aftermarket upgrades to the chassis and suspension systems to compensate for the extra weight and rotational forces that larger tires and wheels can bring to bare on your vehicle then we have a wide selection to choose from.    UTV/ATV tire sizes are displayed on the sidewall as height x width – wheel diameter. It’s recommended you stick with the stock size chosen by the manufacturer unless you’re looking for certain performance benefits and understand the pros and cons of changing size.  Always consult  owner’s manual for more information.
• Steering Service/Repair
  Rice Tire is here to help answer any questions and to schedule any service.  We are your full-service stop for tires, tire rotations, suspension and steering, and wheel alignments.  Our technicians are trained to look for potential problems and have the experience to fix them.   Rice Tire has 11 locations throughout the mid-Atlantic area. We are in your neighborhood. We are in your city.

Heating and Cooling

• Air Conditioning Service/Repair
  Car air conditioning systems promote a comfortable cabin interior and help prevent driver fatigue. During normal vehicle operation, a substantial amount of heat is created by the engine and exterior contributors like the road and sun. During the cool months, this heat is transferred to the interior of the vehicle to keep you warm but during the hot months, your vehicle’s AC system is responsible for cooling, purifying, and circulating air. Your air conditioning system works through a series of processes that involve refrigerant. In your vehicle, the refrigerant is responsible for removing heat from the cabin compartment. Refrigerant goes through a continuous cycle of air compression that is dependent on your compressor’s drive belt. The compressor pumps the refrigerant through the system where it is transformed from a hot gas into a liquid and then cooled. Through a number of other components, such as the condenser, compressor, and evaporator, the liquid is again processed into a gas, pressurized, and vaporized before being released into the cabin as cool air.
• Air Filter Replacement

Tires

• Tire Rotation
  There is no need to reset the system with a direct tire TPMS as there is with indirect.  There are batteries that power this system that lasts about a decade. Some of the advantages to the direct TPMS is that it is more accurate than indirect, it’s simple to use, it may be included on the car’s spare tire and it’s not prone to inaccuracies because of tire rotation and other tire fixes.
• Tire Repair
  The disadvantages of the direct TPMS systems is that they are expensive to install.  Most cars come from the factory with them already in the car. To re-synchronize, you will need some special and highly expensive equipment.  Re-synchronizing is easy, but this equipment can be quite costly. The sensors are susceptible to damage during tire repair and maintenance.
• Wheel Alignment
  A wheel, or tire, alignment is a part of regular vehicle maintenance to maintain the angles of the wheels per the manufacturer’s specifications.  These wheel angles can be changed to suit a specific handling requirement. Some sports (race) cars or off-road vehicles may require special adjustments beyond the manufacturer’s specification for performance reasons.  We give a more complete explanation in our Wheel Alignment Overview.
• Tire Replacement
• Tire Service
  Rice Tire services virtually every type of passenger vehicle on the road today in our 11 locations across the Mid-Atlantic region.  We offer the leading brands of passenger car tires, light truck tires, SUV tires, and trailer tires from manufacturers like Goodyear, Michelin, Continental, General Tire, Falken, Hankook, Doral, El Dorado, Kelly, Bridgestone, Firestone, BFGoodrich, and many others.  Additionally, we carry several brands of UTV and ATV tires for your four wheeler’s and side-by-side off road vehicles including Carlisle, Deestone, and Kenda.
• Tire Balancing
  Wheel balancing is necessary process when tires are mounted to a rim to compensate for the sometimes-uneven distribution of rubber within the tire itself.  It’s accomplished by a qualified technician and wheel balancing machine.  The tech mounts the tire/wheel combo on the machine, the machine spins the tire/wheel at a high rate of speed and the computer identities the location of the out of balance area.  The tech then applies small weights opposite of those areas at the perimeter of the rim/wheel.  Most big tire brands have tighter quality control and thus require the use of fewer and smaller weights. Off brands and used tires can sometimes be so far out of balance that they require the use of many and heavier weights.

Brakes

• Brake Service
• Brake Inspection
  We know that fixing your brakes can be expensive.  But, it is more expensive when you wait on getting needed repairs done.  You can also cause extensive damage by waiting. Worn down brakes will affect your car’s ability to slow down or even come to a complete stop.  Which can result in you not stopping in time to avoid an accident or worse, hitting someone.
• Brake Repair
  Because front brakes provide most of your vehicle’s stopping power, they tend to wear out more quickly than rear brakes. When deciding whether or not to schedule a front disc brake repair service, there are some symptoms to consider. Squealing noises from the front brakes point to worn brake pads, while grinding noises are a sure sign that your rotors need servicing. If your brake pedal shakes when engaged, this may also be a sign of bad rotors. A vehicle that pulls to one side when braking indicates a bad caliper or uneven brake pad wear, which can result from uneven distribution of pressure in the brake lines. Besides incurring additional repair costs, leaving symptoms of an impending front disc brake repair untreated can lead to serious, stressful situations for both yourself and other drivers on the road.
• Brake Replacement
  Regular brake inspections will help you plan for, or avoid, other costly vehicle repairs due to weak brakes.  And will help you prepare for a brake replacement.

Exterior/Interior

• Body/Collision Repair
  See us for other automotive services including state inspections, collision repairs, other auto body work, and painting.
• Body Painting
• Glass Repair/Replacement

Electrical and Electronic

• Lighting Services
• Battery Service
• Electrical Service/Repair
  Restore vehicle performance with our auto repair services; see us for brake repairs, wheel alignments, steering and suspension system repairs, transmission repairs, and electrical system repairs.

General

• General Repairs
  Founded in 1956, ​Rice Tire has spent the last 63 years delivering extensive auto repairs to satisfied customers throughout the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. area. We focus on building strong customer relationships and providing the highest quality of workmanship on each and every automotive repair.
• Towing Service
• Auto Maintenance
  One of the easiest steps in maintaining your car’s life span is through regular preventative maintenance.  When you have your car serviced regularly, you reduce the risk of small problems becoming big problems. You will be maintaining the working parts of your vehicle, so they perform at maximum capacity.  You also will notice when issues start to pop up. Small issues are much easier and less costly than big issues.
• Belts and Hoses Service
  Rice Tire works with all makes and models of cars.  Our goal is to keep our client’s cars on the roads for years to come.  And, replacement of the belts and hoses is certainly an important part of that.  The serpentine belt is what powers many components within the engine. If it breaks it can break any of those other components.  We can take a look at the belt and see what kind of wear you have. After all, the belt is out in the open so it’s easily checked.  And, it doesn’t require any engine tear down. This simple check could save you from being stranded on the side of the highway.