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September 2017

Your Vehicle is Begging for a Tune-Up Service

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If you have children, you know they never ask to go to the doctor. In fact, some of them fear the doctor. They don’t want to get shots, after all. But as the parent, you know what’s best for them. Taking them to the doctor for those shots will help them prevent getting really sick later. You are doing it to help them, not to hurt them. Knowing that forces you to follow through with those doctor’s visits, no matter how much they resist.

Of course, your vehicle isn’t as important to your life as your children, but you still want to take good care of it. And, unlike a child, your vehicle actually will beg you for a tune-up service. There are a number of things your vehicle will do that will show you it’s time for a tune-up. And, like a child, if you follow through with those tune-up services, the vehicle can prevent getting really sick later.

Here are a few signs that your vehicle is just asking to go to the shop for a Philadelphia tune-up service.

Warning Lights

When you see warning lights on your dashboard, it’s easy enough to ignore. You just don’t look at them, right? When your child has a fever, you don’t ignore that. There must be something causing it! When your car has a warning light, the same is true. Don’t ignore it! Find out what is going on to cause the light to go off so you can prevent anything worse from happening.

Poor Gas Mileage

You know what your car should get by way of gas mileage. The sticker told you when you first bought the vehicle and you know how often you have to get gas. If you find yourself getting gas more often than you used to, that means there’s something wrong with your vehicle. It needs that tune-up service so you can find out. If your child doesn’t have the energy he used to, of course you’re going to find out what’s wrong. You should do the same for your car so it will work longer and harder for you.

Rough Starts

You want your vehicle to start with ease every time you turn the key. It needs to be reliable so you can get where you’re going, when you need to get there. If you notice a rough start or if it is hard to get the car going at all, it’s time to call in and get that tune-up service scheduled right away.

At Schafer’s Auto Center, we never put vehicles before children, but we understand how important your car is to your way of life. You have to have a vehicle to get to work, to get your children to school, and to take them in to the doctor when they are sick. When you need a Philadelphia ,PA tune-up service, call for an appointment at 215-755-1270 and then bring the vehicle to us at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

Getting That Smog Check, it’s the Law

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When it comes to maintaining your vehicle, there are things you can do and things you can ignore. Of course, you want to maintain your vehicle as best you can so it runs effectively and efficiently or longer. But there are also things on the vehicle maintenance list that you cannot ignore—by law. Everyone has to get a Philadelphia smog check, for example, in order to drive in a legal manner around the state.

Why Get a Smog Check?

Number one, it’s the law. That in and of itself is enough reason to get the check you’re supposed to have. Pennsylvania requires these state vehicle safety inspections and emissions tests for a reason. They want to ensure that every vehicle on the road is under safe operation. The inspections can help prevent vehicle failures that lead to serious crashes and injuries. The smog test portion of the test will help ensure that no vehicle is putting out more into the environment than it absolutely has to in order to operate. The state inspection and smog check are often performed at the same time so they can all be done at once.

You want to get a smog test for your own good, as well. Not only will you ensure that you are doing your part for the environment, but you will also know that your vehicle is running efficiently and nothing is out of sync. When your car emits too much smog, something is wrong and you will want to look into that further later.

What Happens Upon Failure?

With any luck, your car will pass the smog check each and every time, but sometimes, that might not happen. When you have an inspection, you’ll get a printed report with the results. If you fail the smog test, you will have to make the related repairs within 30 days and get the car re-inspected. If you take longer than 30 days, the shop can charge you to perform the tests all over again. Otherwise, the re-testing is free and incorporated under what you were already charged.

What do Smog Tests Cost?

Car ownership isn’t cheap and you have to pay for things like regular maintenance and smog checks over the years. The price varies from shop to shop and some will charge as much as $100. You can, however, find shops that will do it for $60-70. Just make sure they are state certified shops and you are good to go.

When you need a Philadelphia , PA smog check or state inspection, contact Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270. We have the certified technicians who can do the job for you quickly and efficiently at a price you can afford. We want your vehicle to be safe and we want you to be a legal driver. Call with any questions you have or to set up an appointment. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’d love to help you out any time!

When You Need A Philadelphia State Inspection

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Living in Philadelphia has a lot of benefits, but you also have a lot of requirements to meet when it comes to your vehicle. When you need a Philadelphia state inspection on your vehicle, you may not know what that means, especially if you are new to the area or a new driver. What are they looking for? What do you need to have it? Where can you get one? When you need that Philadelphia state inspection, it’s good to know what’s going on behind the scenes so you are prepared.

Technicians use an Onboard Diagnostic System

An OBD is a tool that technicians use as part of the emissions inspection. The computer has diagnostic software as well as a variety of sensors. It can monitor the vehicle’s ignition performance and fuel metering to make sure the car is working as it was designed. It can help to identify problems and recognize certain symptoms as well. The certified technician will connect the computer to a data link in your vehicle and download information to see how well the emission system is working in your car.

Benefits

The OBD brings a lot of benefits with it. First, you will know that your vehicle is not polluting the air more than it has to when you run it. Second, it can showcase any small or large issues in your vehicle that you can catch before they get worse. And third, it can help you maintain your vehicle to the proper standards to help it last longer.

Tailpipe Tests

Technicians will also use tailpipe probes to collect samples from the exhaust of your vehicle. They will then analyze the pollutants from the tailpipe that come out when the engine is idling. The exhaust information is important to telling if your vehicle is putting out more pollutants than necessary for its model year.

Benefits

When your car is polluting the air more than it is designed to, there are issues within your vehicle behind pollution. It means your car isn’t running efficiently and pretty soon, it might not run effectively either. To avoid getting stranded or dealing with even more costly repairs, it is best to get the fixes taken care of sooner rather than later.

Where to get a Philadelphia state inspection

You have to get a state inspection by law if you live in Pennsylvania. And if you want those tests to be recognized by the state, you have to go to an auto center that is certified by the state to run the tests. Don’t waste your time or money on something the state won’t accept. Instead, visit Schafer’s Auto Center and utilize our certified technicians when you need your state Philadelphia , PA vehicle inspection. We’ll do the required inspections, but we will also run an 80-point inspection free any time you visit to ensure that your car is in working order in every way. Make an appointment for your state inspection today by calling 215-755-1270. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

Avoiding Auto Repair Shops

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You don’t like having to visit the auto repair shop, right? It takes time out of your day, gives you inconveniences, and often even costs you money. But visiting auto repair shops is something you have to do if you want to continue to drive in Philadelphia. If you want to avoid as many repairs as possible, keep these tips in mind and stay safe on the road.

Tip 1: Have Vehicle Inspections Done

It seems backwards that if you want to avoid auto repair shops, you have to visit auto repair shops, but that’s how things work. One of the biggest mistakes you can make in order to avoid costly, surprise trips to the auto repair shops is avoid vehicle inspections and routine maintenance. If you keep up with routine maintenance and have a vehicle inspection done while you are there, you likely won’t have to come back any time soon for repairs. That’s a good step forward in avoiding the shop.

Tip 2: Drive Safely

Of course, you never want to get into an accident, but if you really want to avoid auto repair shops, it is a good idea to drive as safely as possible. When you live in the Philadelphia area, that means not only driving for yourself, but also watching for other drivers. Obey the speed limits, forget about your phone, wear your seat belt, and drive defensively so you can watch for those who aren’t driving as carefully as you are. This can help you avoid costly repairs and even injuries.

Tip 3: Pay Attention to Small Things

You don’t want your car to be undrivable for a day or longer. You can avoid these long, costly trips to the repair shops by paying attention to the little details and having small things fixed before it gets to be a big deal. Watch for signs that something is wrong and head off those small things so you won’t have to make a large, budget-busting trip to the repair center later.

Tip 4: Watch the Owners Manual

You will want to know as much about your car as possible, which means leafing through the owner’s manual from time to time. When you get a vehicle inspection, you will hear things like fluids, filters, and other such items. You will want to know when those things need to be changed so there are no surprises. The more you know about your vehicle, the more trips to the auto repair shop Philadelphia, PA center you can avoid by being proactive about maintenance.

Whether you need a large repair or something simple like an oil change, Schafer’s Auto Center is here to help. We’ll do a full vehicle inspection every time you bring your car in so there are never any surprises when you are out on the Philadelphia roads. Give us a call for an appointment at 215-755-1270. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re happy to keep your vehicle running efficiently at all times.

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