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October 2017

Schafer’s Auto Center for Transmission Repair

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How would you like to need transmission repair? You wouldn’t? No way! Of course, no one wants to have to deal with transmission repair, but if it happens to you, it can give you peace of mind to have the right auto shop backing you up. You can leave your transmission repair in the right hands and understand that your vehicle will be in as good as new condition when you get it back…at least where the transmission is concerned! There are plenty of places you could go in Philadelphia, but only one shop is the right choice for you. That shop is Schafer’s Auto Center! Here are a few reasons we’d like you to bring your vehicle to us for transmission repair.

We are a complete service repair center
Sure, there are plenty of places you could take your vehicle for transmission repair. There are even shops that specialize in transmission repair. But when you bring your vehicle to us, we can take care of every issue under the sun. You know you’re having trouble with your transmission, but you might also need an oil change. Wouldn’t it be nice to take care of everything at the same time? We can do that with ease!

Our technicians are true masters
When you come to our shop, you will see that we have 7 full access bays and even a full size heavy duty truck lift so we can handle any transmission repair you bring us. Besides that, we only hire expert technicians that are ASE trained and certified. They don’t work for us without being a master technician because we only want to pass the best services along to you.

We are family owned and operated
What does it mean to be family owned and operated? That means that our employer and employees live and work among you! We don’t serve a corporate office and we don’t have quotes we have to meet. We are a part of your community. We treat you like family and like neighbors because that’s exactly what you are to us! When it comes to transmission repair, we will be honest with you from start to finish. We have to go home at night to a house near yours in the same city. We want to be able to sleep at night and that means we won’t cheat you out of any hard earned money. We’re upfront and honest and we tell you the repairs you need and that’s it!

If you are ready for Philadelphia ,PA transmission repair, the professional technicians at Schafer’s Auto Center are ready to help you. Just give us a call to make an appointment at 215-755-1270. We can get your transmission repair taken care of as well as any other issues your vehicle is having. Just let us know how we can help you! We’re located in a convenient spot, too, at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. We’re looking forward to working with you soon!

Oil Changes…A Necessity in the Life of Your Vehicle

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There are some things you just have to do in life, whether you want to or not. Your body needs water, so you have to drink it, whether you like it or not! It’d be nice to add hours into your day so you can get more done, but you have to sleep, there’s no getting around it! The same can be said about the mechanical world. When it comes to your vehicle, there are things that are necessary to its very life. When you live in Philadelphia, it can be very inconvenient to get stranded by a vehicle that decides to shut down on you. And it never happens at a convenient time, right? Not that there really ever is such a time… When it comes to keeping your vehicle running smoothly for the long haul, the oil change is essential!!!

Oil Changes are Like Water
An oil change is essential to the life of your vehicle because your vehicle runs based on your engine. When your engine runs out of oil, it starts grinding and eventually shuts down. If the engine runs on oil that is too old, it can get gummy and also cause other issues, which eventually shut it down. The engine runs smoothly on good, clean oil. That’s something you can count on. When you are dehydrated, you don’t run as well either, right? Have you ever seen someone pass out from dehydration and heat exhaustion? That’s what happens to your engine if you don’t change the oil. It simply can’t operate any longer! An oil change is a necessity for the life of your vehicle and the well being of your engine.

Oil Changes Save Money
While you might put off an oil change because you don’t like paying for it, you need to think of it as more of an investment into the life of your vehicle. Sure, oil changes cost money. Sure, you’d rather save that money and spend it on something else. But isn’t your vehicle worth a little money for an oil change every now and then? Because in reality, you are saving quite a bit of money when you have an Philadelphia ,PA oil change. If you don’t have that oil changed in time and your engine stops, you have a lot bigger (and more expensive) issues on your hand. You will actually SAVE money in getting those regular oil change services.

When you need an oil change, you want it done fast and you want it done right. You can get both at Schafer’s Auto Center. Give us a call and make an appointment based on your busy lifestyle. You can reach us at 215-755-1270. We’re happy to change your oil and check your vehicle over to make sure everything is running efficiently and effectively. We’re conveniently located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 so it will be easy for you to slip in and see us to get that oil change.

Timing Belt Replacement Details

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While you use your car to get around Philadelphia on a daily basis, how often do you sit down and think about the individual parts in the car? Rarely? Never? You may notice when the tires are low on air or if the brakes are squeaking, but what about the timing belt? The timing belt is actually one of the most important parts of your car and you need to maintain it properly! It keeps your engine running properly and with it breaks; it can be a big deal. There are a number of things that go into the timing of timing belt replacement. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Mileage
Your timing belt will need to be replaced between 50,000 and 70,000 miles, depending on the make and model of your car. Not every vehicle even has a timing belt so you will want to check your owner’s manual in order to see if it applies to you at all. You should also check and see what type of engine you have, interference or non-interference engine.

Engine Types
Interference engines have valves and pistons sharing the same air space. They don’t touch unless the timing break skips or breaks. That timing belt can cause a huge failure that requires replacing bent valves and removing the head. The repairs can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on the damage that is done. Non-interference engines don’t risk the contact if the timing belt breaks. You can still be stranded in Philadelphia breaks so you will still want to have timing belt replacement at the right time in order to avoid inconveniences.

Makes and Models
Timing belt replacement largely depends on the make and model of your vehicle as well as how you drive it. If you have an older vehicle, it might need timing belt replacement sooner than a newer vehicle. If you don’t’ drive your vehicle very much, it might not need it as soon as a vehicle that is driven on a daily basis. There are many factors to keep in mind, but mileage is a big determining factor on any make and model. However, the mileage is different for varied vehicles. Take a look at your owner’s manual and see what timeframe you have on the timing belt replacement.

Call Schafer’s Auto!
The Professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here to help with all of your vehicle needs. Give us a call at 215-755-1270 and schedule your next oil change or tune-up today. If you have questions about timing belt replacement, just ask! We can take a look at your Philadelphia timing belt replacement and give you a full report on its lifespan when you bring your vehicle in. We want to make sure you are operating a safe and efficient vehicle at all times. Stop by and see us today at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. You can trust your vehicle maintenance and repairs to our technicians.

Saving Money on Your Vehicle

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It’s not cheap to live in Philadelphia. Let’s face it; there are a lot of expenses and only so much money to go around! When it comes to your vehicle, you need it to get around, but you also want to save as much money for other areas of your life. If you are looking to save money, the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here to help with a few ideas.

Idea 1: Ride Share
If you want to save money on gas and other things within your vehicle, see if you can find someone else in your neighborhood that goes to the same area for work that you do. You can carpool and share rides to and from the office. That will cut down on your car’s commute by half and you will have someone to chat with during the commute.

Idea 2: Public Transportation
If you have some simple errands to run that don’t include hauling a lot of groceries into your home, you might consider public transportation to give your vehicle a break. You can save money on gas and maintenance and enjoy some of the local community ties as well

Idea 3: Search Gas Deals
It might look as if every gas station has the same price, but if you look around, you will notice that some are cheaper than others, even if only be a few cents. Keep tabs on the gas stations where you normally fill up and choose the cheapest options. There are also sometimes gas stations that offer special deals if you have a credit card with them or have a point system to help you save. Those little amounts can add up in the long run.

Idea 4: Keep Up With Your Tune-Up Service
One of the most important things you can do for your vehicle in order to save money is having a regular tune-up service. This might seem backwards because doesn’t a tune-up service actually cost money? Yes, but you are saving money in the long run! Here’s how. When you have a tune-up service, your vehicle will be running as efficiently and effectively as possible. You will use less gas and get better mileage, which will save you at the gas pump. You will also be able to fix anything small early before it becomes a big, expensive problem, which will also save you money.

Saving money when it comes to your vehicle can be a big deal and the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center want to help in any way they can. We give cars a Philadelphia ,PA tune-up service in order to ensure they are running at their best for you. We won’t want you to get stranded at an inconvenient time in Philadelphia and we don’t want you wasting any money either. Give us a calla t 215-755-1270 and set up your tune-up service today. A little time and money now will save a lot later. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. See you soon!

Ignoring Timing Belt Replacement can lead to Disaster

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Timing belts and timing chains have been around in car engines for decades. The biggest drawback of the timing belt is its limitations as time goes by. Timing belts wear down and the rubber stresses and dries out. If you don’t know much about vehicles, chances are you don’t know when your timing belt needs to be replaced. You also may not know the mileage levels at which to consider timing belt replacement. The professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here to help with Philadelphia timing belt replacement and other maintenance items. We’ll help you determine when replacement is necessary (generally around 60,000 miles) and the best course of action for your vehicle and your budget.

Potential Dangers of Ignoring Replacement

The timing belt is an integral part of any vehicle. If you don’t replace them at the right time, they can lead to dangers and other problems with higher costs. Here are a few to consider.

Engine Damage

Timing belts allow the valves to hit the pistons at the right time. If the belt isn’t under normal operating conditions or breaks and jumps off gears, the valves could strike a cylinder and cause severe and costly damage to the engine. If you are running your vehicle over the recommended mileage change for timing belt replacement, you may be on borrowed time. Timing belt replacement is much cheaper than fixing, rebuilding, or replacing an engine because of damage that is caused due to a worn out timing belt.

Hard to Find Parts

Timing belt replacement is a preventative maintenance measure that you can utilize to avoid other issues, but car owners often ignore it. In fact, it’s so prevalent that many car manufacturers and engine parts makers don’t stock engine components for timing belts after 5-7 years because there will only be a handful of those vehicles still on the road. It can be hard to find crankshafts, pistons, connecting rods and other items for older engines because manufacturers don’t find it economic to create those parts. It is in your best interest to avoid having to find those hard-to-find parts by having timing belt replacement done in Philadelphia at the right intervals.

Contact the Right Shop for Help

Timing belt replacement can be difficult for those who don’t know what they are doing and it requires special tools that only skilled technicians have. It might cost you labor to have a professional do the job, but that will still cost less than engine damage that avoiding the issue can cause. If you need Philadelphia timing belt replacement, or you want a technician to tell you when the time is right for the replacement, contact Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270. We’ll never tell you that you need to do something on your vehicle just because. We take pride in honest, quality work. Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re here to help with your vehicle’s maintenance needs.

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