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August 2019

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Ways To Save Money On Your Vehicle

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

When you purchase a vehicle, whether it’s new or used, you are making an investment in something. While vehicles are always going to cost you over time, there are ways you can save money over what you would spend otherwise. When you speak to professionals in auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, they will likely recommend some of these same things to you to help you save as much money on your vehicle over the years.

-Get Regular Maintenance

Even if you don’t hear a funny noise in your car, it’s a good idea to have regular maintenance done. Mechanics are going to notice little things that could be tweaked and tuned that you’ll never notice. When those things are touched up, your vehicle runs more efficiently and is a lot less likely to break down or need costly repairs. Those regular maintenance checks can help you save a lot of money you would have otherwise spent as the years roll by.

-Keep An Eye On The Book

Your owner’s manual is the most important thing you can read pertaining to your vehicle. It’s a good idea to have a handle on what it says. If you don’t want to have to read through it every month or two, keep a checklist of mileage milestones and what you need to have done and when. If your transmission needs to be flushed at 100,000 miles, there’s a reason the book says so and it’s in your vehicle’s best interest and in your best interest for saving money in the long run.

-Drive Well

One of the biggest things you can do on a regular basis to save money is to drive your vehicle properly. Don’t slam on the brakes or tear out of the gates. That harms your gas mileage, which will cost you more at the pumps, but it can also cause wear to your brakes and other areas of your car. If you drive in the proper manner, you’re safer and so is your vehicle.

-Take Trusted Advice

You need to find a mechanic you can trust so you can take their advice and know it’s truthful. When they say something needs to be tuned up or repaired, you know it’s what really needs to be done. Not every repair shop is going to shoot you straight, so when you find that relationship, it’s best to stick to it.

The professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center live by a code of honesty. We won’t tell you that you need auto repair in Philadelphia, PA unless it’s something we would do on our own vehicle in the same position as you. Give us a call at (215) 755-1270 if you have questions about vehicle maintenance or want to ask about saving money on your car. You can also stop in and see us at 1924 S Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19148 when you set up your appointment for an oil change or anything else. SA is here to help you with any car needs.

Philadelphia, PA auto repair

Where To Get Auto Repair Advice

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

As an owner of a vehicle, you know you have a responsibility to maintain your vehicle as best you can. While you get regular oil changes, and that’s a good start, there might be other Philadelphia, PA auto repair issues that you don’t know much about. If you hear a noise in your car or you feel something strange, where do you go for auto repair advice? Here are a few places that might give you ideas of where to (or where not to) start.

The Internet

The internet is a great place to do research and can give you some of the answers you need, or at least ideas as to what might be wrong. Keep in mind that there’s a lot of false information out there as well so you can’t always trust what you read. Make sure you visit reputable sites so you are getting information from good sources. At the very least, you might be able to find out one or two options as to what is going on with your vehicle as well as price ranges on what it might be to fix it so you aren’t in shock when you take the vehicle in.

Your Resident Car Expert

Do you have a brother or cousin who is always tinkering under a hood? It doesn’t hurt to give them a call and ask them what they think of the noise you’re hearing. They may know exactly what it is by your description. If they don’t work with vehicles of your type and style, their advice may not be spot on, but they could give you an idea of just how fast you need to get in for repairs.

Repair Shop Technicians

In the end, you’re always better off taking your vehicle in for auto repairs and getting a diagnosis from professionals. There are a lot of computer parts in a vehicle today and technicians can hook your car up to diagnostic tools to help figure out exactly what’s wrong and what’s going on. Once they know what’s happening and what’s wrong, they will inform you of the details as well as repair options and quotes so you know what things will cost. If you have a choice, you can make the decision before you move forward with the repairs.

It’s hard to figure out what Philadelphia, PA auto repair you might need based on a noise or a rattle, but the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center can most certainly figure it out. If you’d like to make an appointment or call with questions, you can reach us at (215) 755-1270. We’re happy to help you with any auto repair needs and we can also take care of maintenance and questions as well. If you want to check out our shop, we’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re happy to speak to you in person. Cars are going to need repairs and it’s hard to figure that out if you don’t work with them every day.

auto repair Philadelphia

Is Your Vehicle Ready For Vacation?

By | Auto Maintenance | No Comments

Once you finally get to summer, you can take some time off from work and school and enjoy a family vacation. That vacation won’t be stress-free if you break down in the middle of nowhere without a recourse for a vehicle. Instead of allowing that possibility, get auto repair in Philadelphia, PA before you leave and make sure your car is ready for the trip. Here are a few things it should include:

An Oil Change

Oil changes are one of those regular things that your car just must have. It’s a good idea to do one right before you leave so you don’t get stuck somewhere, needing one and not having the time for it. Try to time it so you will need one just before you take off, so your oil is fresh and ready to go.

Coolant Check

Your vehicle will be working extra hard on the long trip and in the summer heat. You don’t want it to overheat because you don’t have enough coolant. If you can’t remember when the coolant was changed out or added to, it’s probably time. Have the technicians check the levels and go from there.

Battery Test

Summer can be even harder on a battery than winter and you will want to make sure your battery is strong and in good working order. You don’t want to have it die on you when you’re getting gas somewhere and there’s no place around to get a new one. If it doesn’t test well, it’s easy enough to get a new one before you leave on your trip.

Check Over The AC

Air conditioning has a way of stopping its job at the worst of times. You’ll want to make sure that isn’t when your family is sweating on the trip to the desert, right? Have a technician check over the AC and make sure it has enough Freon and other elements to get everything in perfect working order before you end up with bad results at an inconvenient time.

Tire Inspection

You want to make sure the tread on your tires is at a good level before a big vacation. They should also be rotated and inflated to the right level for the best gas mileage for the trip.

These are a few things you will want to do in terms of maintenance and auto repair in Philadelphia, PA before you take that family vacation and have an issue down the road. The professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here to help with any kind of inspection or tune-up you want. Call us at (215) 755-1270 and set up an appointment or ask questions you have about what you need to do before you leave. You can also stop by and see us at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148. At SAR, we’re here to help your vehicle run effectively and efficiently every season of the year, no matter what kind of road trip you want to take with your family.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Getting Better Summer Mileage With Auto Repairs

By | Auto Repair | No Comments

Gas mileage in your vehicle is always important to your family’s budget, but when you are using the car even more, like during the summer months, that makes how far each tank goes even more essential. Use these auto repair tips in Philadelphia, PA to help your car get that much farther down the road between fill ups, on vacations, and during the everyday errands.

Forget The Cool Down

In the winter, you might start your car and let it run a bit, so the engine warms up (and so the interior does, too). In the summer, it’s tempting to do the same, so the interior is cooler when you slide in. However, running your vehicle without driving it just wastes gas. Your vehicle will cool down in a few minutes and you can handle driving it until them if you know that you can get better gas mileage, right?

Inflate Tires Just So

When tires are too low, the engine hast to work harder to get the rubber to roll over. It sounds like a small thing, but an engine working harder means more gas is getting used for each mile. Check where your tires should be and then ensure that they are at that level every few times you stop to get gas. You could save up to 2 miles per gallon or more with the right tire pressure.

Replace Air Filters

You know that air is important to any vehicle and if air can’t get into the engine to mix with gas, the vehicle will add more gasoline, which can cause lots of issues…one of which is lower gas mileage. When the filters need to be changed out, get them changed because they can make a difference in how your vehicle operates and how much it costs you on the road.

Clean Or Replace Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are also something that can impact how well an engine performs. After they get dirty or corroded, they cause wasted fuel and lower gas mileage. They’re a small, easy fix and they can get you a lot farther down the road between tanks of gas.

Get That Tune Up

You don’t necessarily have to keep track of everything your vehicle needs to get good gas mileage. It can be confusing to those who don’t know a lot about cars and it’s hard to know when certain things need to be done. Just be diligent about getting your tune-ups and your technician can keep you informed on what is recommended and when.

When you are ready for auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, whether you need advice, an oil change, or something larger, Schafer’s Auto Center is here for you. At SAR, we won’t tell you something needs to be done unless it’s something we would do on our own vehicle. Call for an appointment at (215) 755-1270 and we’ll take a look at your vehicle when you bring it in. You can also stop by with questions at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148.

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