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Monthly Archives

February 2018

Feb 26
0

Can You Pull Off Auto Maintenance and Service?

By | Auto Maintenance | No Comments

If you feel like you know a thing or two about vehicles, there may be certain things you think you can do on your own. There are plenty of things that most car owners can do (like check the tire pressure on the vehicle and pay attention to warning lights) but there are other things that you might want to leave up to professionals. Can you pull off auto maintenance and service in Philadelphia on your own? Maybe, at times, you can! And good for you! But there are advantages to using professional services as well. Here are just a few.

Time is Money

When it comes to your time, it’s precious. You don’t really want to spend any more time on tasks than absolutely necessary because there are so many other things to do. You might know how to change the oil in your vehicle, but when it comes right down to it, this is an auto maintenance and service that is simple and easy for the professionals to do. They can do it quickly and efficiently and you can work or just relax in the waiting room while you wait. Getting two things done at once can help your time crunch.

Guarantees are Always Helpful

When you do the work yourself, you have nothing to back you up. Sure, you think everything will go fine and maybe it will, but what about that one time when it doesn’t? You have to fix the issue yourself or take the vehicle in to get auto maintenance and service in a shop in Philadelphia. Then, you will have lost the time you spent on the vehicle, the money you spent on supplies, and you still have to pay for repairs at the actual shop. Go around all that by going to professionals in the first place and getting guarantees. If anything goes wrong with the repairs on their watch, they fix it free, not questions asked.

Get Experience You Don’t Have

You may have tinkered with some cars from time to time over the years, but do you work on them every day? Probably not! Btu professionals at the auto maintenance and service shops do. And when you take your vehicle in for repairs or maintenance, they can use that experience to help further your goals. They might notice something small wrong, for example, that can easily be fixed now. If it’s left alone, it can turn into a larger, more expensive ordeal later. At the very least, they’ll use their experience to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

There’s nothing wrong with doing some work on your vehicle yourself at times, as long as you know what you’re doing. But it’s usually better and easier to bring it to the professional auto maintenance Philadelphia experts at Schafer’s Auto Center. Call us for an appointment at 215-755-1270 or stop by and see us at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

Feb 19
0

Necessary Auto Repair Visits

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

While you don’t like to spend any more time in the auto repair shop than necessary, there are certain times when it simply has to be done. When you have a shop in Philadelphia that you trust, you now you can avoid repairs by doing what they say in terms of regular maintenance. Here are some of the necessary auto repair visits you will have to go through in order to maintain a safe, reliable vehicle for years to come.

Visit 1: Oil Changes

Besides putting gas in your vehicle, there’s nothing more important to making it run than getting regular oil changes based on your manufacturer’s recommendations. You can get reminders from your auto shop or you can keep an eye on the sticker they place in your car to help you remember when you need to go in again. These oil changes keep your engine in shape and you on the road for as long as possible.

Visit 2: Regular Inspections

When getting an oil change, many car owners like to have an inspection of the vehicle done as well. The best thing you can do to avoid larger repairs is keep things tuned up. If there’s anything small going wrong, they can catch it and fix it before it becomes a major, expensive deal. Plus, your vehicle will run more efficiently and use less gas when you keep it in prime conditions.

Visit 3: Tire Rotations and Alignments

Your tires are an integral part of getting you where you need to go. If you have your vehicle long enough, chances are you will need new tires at some point. But if you want the tires to last as long as possible, and drive well in the Philadelphia winter, you need to rotate them every other oil change or so. Rotating the tires will help them wear evenly so they last longer.

Visit 4: Maintenance Checks

In addition to inspections, there are certain things your manufacturer will recommend you do at certain points. You might have to get new transmission fluid when you go over 100,000 miles and other such items. Keep an eye on your manufacturer’s book and have your auto repair shop keep you in tune with what needs to be done and when. These small items add up in the long run and keep your vehicle in good shape.

If you are able to visit your auto repair shop Philadelphia just a few times a year for these tasks, your vehicle will be much better off. You want to keep your car in good condition so it is reliable and will get you where you need to go. You also want it to cost you as little as possible, which means maintaining it properly. And you want it to have the highest resale value possible when you decide to trade it in as well. For all of these things, you need the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center. Call us at 215-755-1270 or stop by our shop at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

Feb 12
0

Transmission Problems to Notice

By | Auto Service | No Comments

There’s nothing quite like having transmission issues to send you into a state of panic. You know they can be very expensive and, at the very best, inconvenient. You never need transmission repair at a good time, right? But if you own your car long enough, sooner or later, you’ll probably have to get transmission repair in Philadelphia. It’s best to know what to watch for so you understand when you need a mechanic. Transmission issues, if they aren’t fixed, will just get worse. Watch for these signs of transmission problems to help yourself save time and money on repairs.

-The Check Engine Light

The first sign that something might be wrong (or is about to go wrong) is the check engine light. That light can mean any number of things, including possible transmission repair needs. The sensors on your vehicle tell the computer if something strange is happening and some of those sensors sit on the transmission. They pick up tiny things that you will never notice or feel. It’s never a good idea to ignore that Check Engine Light.

-Whining, Humming, or Clunking

You don’t want to go to the auto shop and make the sounds your vehicle is making in order to describe to a technician what’s wrong, but when you hear these noises, it could be the transmission. It can be hard to identify transmission repair needs based on sound, but if you hear something like this that you haven’t heard before, get it checked over.

-Shaking or Grinding

Your car shouldn’t shake or jerk and you shouldn’t hear any grinding noises. These are indications that you need transmission repair. The grinding will occur when you shift if you have a manual transmission. With an automatic, you might have trouble getting into gear when you start moving. Get things checked out before it gets worse.

-Neutral Noise

When your car is in neutral, if it makes bumping sounds, you might have low or dirty transmission fluid. That’s easy enough to fix. Top off the fluid and if that doesn’t work, change it out. There could also be some worn parts that need to be swapped out of the transmission.

Not every car owner is a car expert and we understand that you don’t necessarily know everything about every part of your vehicle. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to changes in how your car operates so you know when to bring it in for help. Keep up with your regular tune-ups and oil changes and with any luck, Philadelphia , PA transmission repair needs will be caught far enough in advance that you won’t have any trouble with them at all. In order to get the professional help you need, make an appointment at Schafer’s Auto Center by calling 215-755-1270. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re happy to help with tune-ups, oil changes, transmission repair, and any other car maintenance or repair need you have over the years.

Feb 05
0

What Happens When You Skip Oil Changes?

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

Your vehicle needs a number of things over the years. When you first invest in a car, you might think that’s it. You own the vehicle and that’s all you have to spend. That’s not even close to the truth. Car ownership is a responsibility and you have plenty of expenses coming your way. OF course, you have to pay for insurance. And you know the car will stop running if you don’t fill it with gas. But what else? Oh yes, the oil changes! You might hesitate about getting oil changes because you don’t think it’ll make that big of a difference, but you would be wrong. You have to have blood running through your body to operate correctly and your vehicle has to have oil in the engine in order to operate. Without oil, it dies. It’s as simple as that.

Oil is an essential lubricant to your engine. IT lets metals press against other metals without causing damage. Without oil, the metal on metal causes friction that heats up so much that the surfaces mold together and the engine seizes. If you want to get where you’re going, that’s not a good thing. So, you want to avoid that oil change in Philadelphia? Fine! But here’s what will happen if you never change your oil:

-Dirt Accumulates

You will start to get more and more dirt in the oil as you use it and it cycles through the engine. Your filters will remove dirt for a while, but it will clog and get dirty eventually and the dirty oil will pass through it to the relief valve. Dirty oil is thick and abrasive and causes more wear on your engine. The longer you go without that oil change, the dirtier the oil gets. The oil could start to get sticky and cause issues, or it could dry up completely.

-Your Engine Will Stop

Eventually, your engine isn’t getting what it needs and it will start to cause damage to itself. When it’s lubricated well with oil, it runs nicely. When it isn’t, it’ll start to run harder and that will cause a number of things to possibly go wrong. It could stop running completely or it could run harshly and cause itself a great deal of damage.

When you think about getting an Philadelphia , PA oil change, sure, it’s going to take a little time out of your day and a little money out of your pocket. But in the end, isn’t that much better than having your car stop by the side of the road needing major engine repairs? That’ll take a lot more time and money away, right?

Schedule your oil change with Schafer’s Auto Center today by calling 215-755-1270. If you aren’t sure how long it’s been, or when you need to get your oil changed to stay safe, we can help you set up a schedule that suits both you and your engine. Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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