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May 2019

auto repair in Philadelphia

Listening To Your Engine For Auto Repair Needs

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

You’ve probably had an auto repair in Philadelphia before. If you’ve owned a vehicle for any length of time, you’ve had to get tire rotations, oil changes, new filters, and other odds and ends. The last thing anyone wants is to have engine trouble, but it happens! When your vehicle is making specific noises, you need to take it in for an inspection right away or it could cause further damage. Don’t worry about sounding silly making the noise for the technician. We’ll drive the vehicle ourselves and listen for what you mean. Here are a few engine noises that need auto repair right away:

Hissing Sounds

If your engine is making a hissing sound, there could be an issue with the cooling system or within the vacuum line. Whatever it is, it’s definitely not doing your vehicle any good. You need to get to an auto repair shop sooner rather than later.

Clunking Sounds

If you hit a bump and hear a clunk, you might have an issue with the undercarriage that could be affecting the engine. The sound could occur at a variety of times, but if you for sure hear it when you go over a bump, get things checked out.

Howling Noises

Wolves are supposed to howl at the moon, your engine is not supposed to howl at all. You might have a problem with your differential and it’s definitely not something you want to mess around with.

Shrieking Or Squealing Noises

If your vehicle is making a high-pitched noise, there might be an issue with your serpentine belt. You know what your car usually sounds like so when that changes, it’s time to get things looked at.

Screeching Sounds When You Brake

Squealing brakes are never a good thing and when they make noise as you step on them, that’s their way of telling you they are failing and need to be replaced. If you ignore it, it can cause a lot of danger and damage to other parts of the vehicle, like the engine.

You may not know that much abbot your vehicle’s engine, but you are the one who drives the car and you do know what it normally sounds like. When those normal sounds change into one of the above noises, it’s time to take your vehicle to an auto repair in Philadelphia. If there’s nothing wrong, great. You get to move on with peace of mind. But the professionals have the chance to hear the sound and diagnose whatever is going on so you can fix it before it gets worse and causes major engine damage. Contact Schafer’s Auto Center at (215) 755-1270 to set up an inspection if you hear any odd noises in your vehicle. You can stop by and ask us about them as well at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. SAR is here to help you stay as safe as possible while running an efficient vehicle on the road. Whether you know the root cause or not, we’re here to help.

auto repair shop in Philadelphia, PA

Protect Your Investment With An Auto Repair Shop

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

When you buy a home, you want to protect your investment. After all, it’s probably the largest purchase you will make in your life. You maintain your home and when something breaks down, you fix it. You might also upgrade certain things as time goes by. Your vehicle is a big part of your lifestyle as well. When you buy a car, that’s another investment you want to protect. How can you do that? A number of ways, one of which includes an auto repair shop in Philadelphia, PA.

Get The Oil Changed

One of the simplest things you can do to protect your car as an investment is to get oil changes at regular intervals. Take a peak in your owner’s manual to see how many miles you can drive between oil changes. Dirty oil affects the engine of your vehicle and doesn’t allow it to operate efficiently or effectively. You want an efficient vehicle so oil changes are important.

Rotate The Tires

The tires on your vehicle are like an investment within an investment. They cost a lot to replace, but you’ll likely wear them down and have to at some point. To keep them operating in the best possible manner for as long as possible, you want them to wear evenly. Have them rotated every other oil change for the best wear and keep an eye on the thread so you don’t wear them down to unsafe levels.

Get Inspections

When you go in for that regular oil change, it’s best to have the technicians check your vehicle over for other things. They might be able to catch something small that would take no time at all to repair. When left alone, however, that small thing could build up and cause damage that is much more costly. Plus, when you get these inspections, you are able to save money and ensure your vehicle is running as efficiently as possible.

Drive Properly

Slamming on the brakes and accelerating as fast as possible is no way to treat your investment. Drive in the proper, safe manner to make the most out of your vehicle. When you treat it right, it will be your ride for a long time.

If you need help maintaining your investment, the technicians at the auto repair shops in Philadelphia, PA are here to help. Contact Schafer’s Auto Center to set up an appointment, or to ask for advice as to how often you need to have an oil change based on your vehicle’s style. Give us a call at (215) 755-1270 and we’ll take care of your vehicle investment as if it were our own. You can also stop by with questions or to see our shop. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re happy to show you around and take a look at your vehicle to see what might need to be done. Let’s work together to protect the investment you made in your vehicle. We’re here to help.

Philadelphia auto repair

Futuristic Car Details On The Horizon

By | Auto Maintenance | No Comments

If you already feel like you are way behind on understanding Philadelphia auto repair and the intricacies it includes, you might be overwhelmed to hear about the even more futuristic car features that are on the horizon. Cars are operated largely by computers today and there are even more futuristic features coming to fruition. Here are a few to think about and watch for as they start to appear in vehicles on the dealership lots.

Dashboards-Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality, or AR will function kind of like in the movies. You’ve probably seen films where a robot would look at a person and access information about them on a screen nearby automatically. Consider that as a driver. Critical information will pop up on the windshield before their eyes to enhance the driver’s senses and safety. If you are approaching another vehicle too fast, for example, the AR display will pop up with arrows that show you how to maneuver around the car and avoid an accident. It will also tell you the safest lane to take to keep you out of harms way and it can notify drivers when their eyes are off the road. These safety measures could help keep drivers alert and even safer.

Communicating Vehicles

Vehicle to vehicle communication, or V2V doesn’t mean your car is going to talk up another car in the parking lot and delay your getaway. Rather, it allows drivers to overcome some of the human mistakes they make as they traverse the roads. You may not see a vehicle that’s about to run a red light approaching you, but soon, your vehicle might be able to. Vehicles transmit wireless signals about their locations, directions, and speeds. That signal is received by surrounding vehicles with the same technology and helps calculate safe driving distances. This technology could lead to smoother journeys for a number of drivers.

Self-Driving Cars

This technology has gotten the most attention and press, but wouldn’t it be nice to have? Many drivers spend hours commuting to and from work every week and allowing a car to do that drive for you would give you some time to relax, read, work, or do any number of other things. Self-driving cars have to rely on lasers, cameras, radar, and other items to process information about the surroundings. The technology has yet to be perfected, but it’s on the to-do list for many companies.

These are just a few of the things that Philadelphia auto repair shops may have to implement into their repair options, along with oil changes, brake repairs, new tires and so on. For now, if you need any type of repair or maintenance on your vehicle, contact Schafer’s Auto Center and in the future, we’ll work together to advance to new levels. Give us a call for an appointment at (215) 755-1270. Or stop into the SAR shop at1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and see how we operate. We’re here to keep the technology that your vehicle features today in good standing.

 

Philadelphia auto repair shops

Safe Driving Tips For Older Drivers From Your Auto Repair Shop

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

Do you have an aging loved one in your life and you’re worried about their driving? Are you getting on in your years and you’d like some tips for driving yourself? The Philadelphia auto repair shops exist to keep your vehicles as safe as possible, but you need to know how to drive well to keep yourself safe as well. If you are older, or have an older loved one in your life, take these tips to heart and stay safe on the road.

Tip 1: Get Hearing And Vision Tests

There are a variety of things that often start to fail as we age. Hearing and vision loss are two such things. In order to stay safe on the road as a senior, get regular hearing and vision tests. You need to be able to hear sirens coming from behind you and you need to be able to see traffic lights and road signs with ease. If you start to find deficiencies in those areas, you might start to limit your driving to daytime hours or you might need a prescription change or hearing aids to help keep you safe.

Tip 2: Stay Fit Physically

Staying active can help seniors with their strength and flexibility, both of which can come in handy when they are driving. Drivers need to be able to turn the steering wheel with ease, look over their shoulder, and carry other motions out while they drive and park. Things like walking, water aerobics, chair yoga and other low-impact exercises can be very beneficial and could help seniors avoid accidents.

Tip 3: Recognize Your Limitations

As a senior, you need to listen to your body and know your driving limitations. If your hands hurt when you are gripping the wheel, get a steering wheel cover to help that issue. If you can’t see the dashboard very well, get something that’s easier to read. Newer vehicles also come with safety elements like blind spot sensors and backup cameras, which can help alert you when dangers are present.

Tip 4: Consider Road Conditions

As is true with any driver, senior drivers need to keep a close eye on road conditions. If there’s snow or ice, it’s best to stay off the road. If the senior doesn’t see well at night, they should avoid dark driving conditions. It’s also a good idea for seniors to keep tabs on their personal conditions. If they are overtired or upset, they should avoid driving. If they’re on a new medication, stay off the road until they know how it impacts their reaction times, and so on.

If you are a senior, or you have a loved one in your life, take these tips to heart and stay safe on the road. When your vehicle needs a Philadelphia auto repair shop for oil changes, brake repairs, or anything else, contact Schafer’s Auto Center at (215) 755-1270 or stop by 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

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