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January 2018

Getting a Vehicle Inspection is Beneficial to You!

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

When you live in Philadelphia, there are a lot of things you have to do. You need to pay taxes, for example, and you have to license and register your vehicle. You also need to have a Philadelphia vehicle inspection from time to time. You know it’s required, but you may not appreciate it. After all, who wants to do more things on their vehicle than absolutely necessary? While the vehicle inspection is a state requirement, it is also to your benefit for a number of reasons. Here are just a few to appreciate the next time you get a vehicle inspection.

Reason 1: Limit Pollution

When you have a vehicle inspection, one of the things the technicians are looking for is the vehicle’s ignition performance and fuel metering to make sure the vehicle is working as it was designed. This benefits you in a number of ways. First, you know you’re not polluting the air with your car more than you should. And second, these checks can showcase any larger issues that you should deal with before they get worse. You want to maintain your vehicle and the vehicle inspection can help you do just that.

Reason 2: Catch Small Items

The vehicle inspection will put your vehicle through a tailpipe test, which can show that your car isn’t running efficiently. When a vehicle isn’t as efficient as it can be, there are problems somewhere along the lines. The issues might be small now, but they can turn into something larger and more expensive later. If you want to avoid those, you may have the required vehicle inspection to thank for pointing out those issues early.

Reason 3: Peace of Mind

You want to drive a vehicle that is in the best possible condition and you can get that when you have a vehicle inspection as required by the state. It’s not something you can put off because you need to have it to continue to drive legally. And that’s a good thing because when you drive away from the vehicle inspection, you know your vehicle is in the best possible condition since it passed the required tests.

Getting the Vehicle Inspection in Philadelphia

To get the required state inspections, you need to go to a shop that is certified to run those tests. Sure, you can go anywhere, but unless the shop is recognized by the state, the tests won’t count. You certainly don’t want to run them twice if you don’t have to, so it’s best to go to Schafer’s Auto Center the first time around. We do all of the required Philadelphia vehicle inspection checks and we run an 80-point inspection completely free any time you visit for an oil change or anything else to help your vehicle remain in working order in every way. Call for an appointment today at 215-755-1270 or stop by our shop at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

Tips to Avoid Brake Repair

By | Brake Repair Shop | No Comments

There are certain things that happen to every vehicle eventually. All cars need oil changes, for example, and they must be filled with gas to run properly. While it takes more time for some more than others, brake repair also becomes necessary in most vehicles at some point. You want to have your vehicle inspected on a regular basis, perhaps when you have oil changes, to ensure your brakes are running as they should. But it’s possible to avoid brake repair for longer than other repairs if you take these tips to heart.

Know what you are doing

When it comes to using your brakes properly, the best thing you can do to avoid brake repair is to use them as they are intended. Most drivers have to slam on the brakes at some point to avoid another vehicle that stops suddenly, but don’t make it a habit. Use your brakes to slow down gradually and let up on them when you are stopped. Using your brakes properly will help extend their life and allow you to avoid brake repair for as long as possible.

Have inspections

When you get your oil changed or have other regular maintenance checks, have the brakes checked to ensure that they are wearing evenly. Uneven wear can cause brakes to fade faster, and you will want to keep an eye on that situation. You will also be able to recognize when small brake repair is necessary, like new brake pads, before the lack of good pads damages something else on your brakes.

Listen carefully

You should know what your vehicle sounds like. Sure, it’s fun to drive around with the radio on, but sometimes, drive in silence so you know what your vehicle sounds like on a normal basis. Then, if some different sounds start piping in, you can recognize them. You might notice your brakes making squealing sounds when you step on them or you might feel like it’s slower to get the vehicle to a complete stop. These are signs that major brake repair is on the way. If you catch the small issues fast, you won’t have as much to fix at a Philadelphia shop later.

If you need Philadelphia brake repair, or you need help preventing it, contact Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270 with questions about your brakes. We want to keep you and your vehicle as safe as possible and that means paying close attention to your brakes. The brakes are an integral part of your vehicle’s safety and while you may not want to need repairs, it’s likely going to happen eventually. By catching the small repairs early, you can save a lot of money later. Stop by our shop at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and let’s talk about brake repair and how you can avoid is as long as possible! We’re experts on vehicles, including brakes, and we want to share our knowledge with you to keep you safe!

What do You want in Auto Maintenance and Service?

By | Auto Maintenance | No Comments

When you go to a restaurant, you expect certain things. You want the restaurant to be clean and you want to have good service. You should get what you ordered and you’d like to pay a reasonable price. Those are just a few of the things you expect from food service. When it comes to auto maintenance and service in Philadelphia, you should expect certain things there as well. You deserve to have good service and since you can take your vehicle wherever you’d like, you can pick and choose which auto center gives you what you really want. Here are a few things many customers want in an auto maintenance and service center.

#1: Experienced Technicians

This is the most important thing you should look for when it comes time for auto maintenance and service. You want to have people who are experienced and know what they are doing on your vehicle. Whether you are looking for regular oil changes or a major engine overhaul, you need certified technicians who have experience and a history of success with vehicles like yours.

#2: Modern Technology and Tools

There are a lot of technological advances in every industry and the auto maintenance and service industry is no different. You want the auto shop you choose to have the right tools for any job you bring them and the advanced technology to diagnose issues and find out what’s wrong quickly and efficiently. Without these technologies and tools, everything takes longer and labor costs add up.

#3: Good References

You will want any auto maintenance and service shop you consider to have good references from people you know and trust as well as from strangers. It’s easy enough to go onto the company website and see their testimonials, but it’s a good idea to search for references elsewhere as well. You’ll get honesty when you look outside the shop’s website to other sources. When you see good things there as well, you can trust their services on your vehicle.

#4: Cleanliness

Though it’s not number one on your list, cleanliness is important as well. If you have to sit in a waiting room during an oil change, you want to be able to sit without feeling like you have to change your clothes right after the service. Any shop is going to have oil and other items strewn about it, but things should be orderly and the waiting room should be nice and clean.

If you want to find all of those things in one auto maintenance Philadelphia and service center in Philadelphia, just look to Schafer’s Auto Center! Give us a call to make an appointment for any service today at 215-755-1270 or stop by and check our shop out in person at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. We’re friendly and honest folks and we’re happy to help you with any repairs, maintenance needs, and anything in between on your vehicle. Our experience will have you back on the road in no time!

Do you Need Auto Repair or Can You Do it Yourself?

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

There are types of people in this world…people who know how to drive a car and that’s as far as their knowledge goes, and people who know their way around a car besides just the driving portion. If you are the latter, perhaps you know how to check the tire pressure, change the oil, and do a number of other maintenance tasks. That’s great! There are plenty of things you can do with your vehicle to prolong its life. Just knowing what it needs and when can help. But when it comes to auto repair, should you go to a shop in Philadelphia or should you work on the auto repair needs yourself? It can make a big difference to your vehicle, and you need to be sure you make the right choice. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you go down the DIY path.

Do you have the experience?
There’s a difference between knowing how to change the oil and making brake repairs or other auto repair needs. Just because you know your way around a vehicle doesn’t mean you know your way around every single element. If you don’t have the experience with the particular kind of repair your vehicle needs, it’s best not to go it alone.

Are you fast enough?
If you have a full time job, kids, and other commitments, adding auto repair to the list might be difficult. If you’re not a professional when it comes to auto repair items, you might be slower than a professional would be. Your time is important! If it’s going to take you more time than it’s worth, it might be better to take the vehicle in to get the auto repair done faster.

Are you going to do it right?
There’s no way you can know the answer to this question up front and that’s what’s scary. When you go to a professional in Philadelphia, their work comes with guarantees. That gives you peace of mind that things will be done right the first time around. If anything goes wrong, they’ll fix it for you free without question. You don’t get that peace of mind when you do the work yourself. In fact, if things go wrong, you’re out more money and time because of it.

If you’re still questioning what direction you want to go, contact Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270 and ask questions about auto repair options. We’re happy to take a look at your vehicle if you stop by our shop at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. We’ll give you an estimate and go over all the details before we do any Philadelphia, PA auto repair at all. You get to make the final decision before we touch a thing. We stand behind our work and you’ll be satisfied as you drive away; otherwise we haven’t done our job properly and we never want that to happen to any of our customers!

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