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June 2020

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Auto Repair For A Hot AC

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Hot summer days are just around the corner and after you watch your child play soccer in the scorching sun, all you want to do is get into the car and crank up the AC. Being hot leads to exhaustion and it can be downright dangerous. While it might take a little time for your AC to kick up the cool air, if all you get is more hot air, auto repair in Philadelphia, PA s something you will want to get right away so you can make it through the summer months in one piece and not in a ton of sweaty droplets.

There are a few different things that can determine what’s going on with your car’s AC. The most common issues are a worn-out compressor, problems with the electrical system, and a refrigerant leak.

Sometimes, the sealant on the AC system won’t be working properly and the refrigerant, which is what makes the air cool, leaks out. That refrigerant turns into evaporating gas and won’t help you at all within the AC system. Get the refrigerant leak fixed so the system is intact, and your car should be able to cool you sufficiently for the rest of the summer.

You may or may not know that the AC system is a maze of wires and pressure switches. If one part of that maze fails, the whole system can shut down since it is no longer safe to operate. It can be hard to diagnose an electrical system issue, but the professionals, of course, can. They can also fix it for you, so you are able to cool everyone in the vehicle with ease.

The compressor in the AC is the power unit that helps the refrigerant change from gas to liquid and pulls heat from the car. That compressor, like any part, can wear down over time. If you want the compressor to last longer, run the AC for ten minutes every month, even in the winter. But if it fails, have auto repair done and you should be on your way to a cooler summer.

It’s rotten to have the AC drop out on you in the middle of a family trip, or on the hottest day of the year. You want to prevent that if at all possible. Watch for signs, like noise coming from the car when you run the AC or air that is never quite all that cool, even if it works a little. Get things checked out earlier so you can have them fixed and then, it’s a lot cheaper and a lot easier to ward off bigger issues.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PAThe professionals in the industry work on AC auto repair in Philadelphia, PA on a regular basis, especially during the summer months. Contact the technicians at Schafer’s Auto Center and schedule a checkup for your vehicle. It’s important to get things looked over as the seasons change, anyway, so you can have peace of mind that your AC will be there for you when you need it.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Auto Repair For Foggy Headlights

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There are a lot of safety elements included in a vehicle. If one of them is out of whack for any reason, you should get auto repair in Philadelphia, PA. There aren’t many safety items that mean more to a vehicle in the dark than the headlights. If you’ve noticed you are having trouble seeing the road in front of your at night, or your headlights are foggy and you worry about other people seeing you, that’s a big deal. It’s important to figure out what’s wrong so you can get it fixed and move down the road at night safely.

Headlight Materials

Headlights used to be made of glass, but that’s a fragile material that can crack and shatter easily. Over the years, car makers decided to make headlights from polycarbonate, which is a hard plastic that resists shattering and breaking. This strong plastic can collect dirt and grime, even though it doesn’t break as easily. So, a UV film was added to protect the lens and extend visibility for longer. The coating works well, but it will wear down and degrade over time. The constant exposure to UV rays and the direct heat of the lightbulb from the interior of the headlights doesn’t’ help, of course. The headlights, when in use a lot, will wear down on an even level. They could become discolored, scratched, yellowed, or, yes, even foggy.

auto repair in PhiladelphiaFoggy Issues

There are a lot of reasons why foggy headlights are a problem. First, they can make the car look bad. Foggy lights bring the overall aesthetics of the car down. But appearance is just one small factor. The larger item is that the headlights when they are foggy, can really reduce the overall light that the car puts out onto the road. You may not be able to see nearly a well and that can be a danger to you as others. Foggy headlights can reduce light by as much as half. You could see even less in adverse weather.

When you have foggy headlights, it’s best to get them fixed. You want them to be like-new in order to remain as safe as possible in the dark. Even during the day, having headlights on can help, especially when it’s rainy or someone pulls out unexpectedly. You may need to have the headlights restored or replaced completely. The procedure doesn’t have to be hard or take long, but it definitely needs to be done.

The nest time you go in for an oil change or other auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, ask about your foggy headlights. If you’ve noticed you can’t see as well at night, or the car looks weird because of headlight discoloration, you’ll want to get that looked at as soon as you can. The professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here for your car advice and repair needs. Give us a call and ask questions or simply make an appointment so we can make time for whatever you need to have done.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Getting More Miles Out Of The Gas Tank

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While gas across the country is cheaper now than it has been in years, it’s still prudent to save money and get everything you can out of every gallon. If you are watching your budget or want to save for a special project, auto repair in Philadelphia, PA and other tips can help you make the most from your mileage. Here are a few tips to follow.

Watch The Foot

Is it tempting to slam down the accelerator and peel out when you’re in a hurry? Do you find yourself going over the speed limit when you aren’t paying close attention? When you watch your foot more carefully and treat your vehicle with more expect, you can save on gas mileage. You’re not in a race so take off from stoplights and stop signs slowly. Try to keep to the speed limit because it can also help you with your mileage.

Think Ahead Through The Lights

You know your route to work and back. If you know how the stoplights operate, you might know that when one turns green, the others in front of it will turn green shortly as well. Slow your pace and you should be able to catch more green without stopping. The less time you spend idling, the better for your gas mileage.

Use The Cruise

Even if you have a pretty steady foot, the cruise control can help you out. You won’t want to use it in heavy traffic or when it’s raining, but if you’re on the interstate for a good chunk of time, the cruise control can keep you steady and help save you money at the gas pump.

Unload The Trunk

Ever feel like you live out of your car? It’s important to keep the vehicle as light as possible if you want good fuel efficiency. Take things out of the trunk and other parts of the vehicle that you aren’t using on a regular basis. Just cleaning out extra junk can make a big difference. If you have sandbags in the car, for example, for the winter months. Take them out for the spring and summer.

Check The Tires

The tires are going to need to be properly inflated for you to get the best fuel economy. Keep an eye on the tire pressure and inflate as necessary to make sure you have the best balance there.

Get Auto Repair And Maintenance

One of the most important things you can do is make sure your vehicle is capable of running efficiently through proper auto repair and maintenance schedules. Check in regularly, get your oil changes on schedule, and make sure everything is running as it should.

If you need auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here to help. We’ll get that oil change, or any other maintenance item done, and we’ll check things out to make sure it’s all running smoothly so you can get the most mileage out of every tank of gas.

auto repair in Philadelphia, PA

Protecting Tires Against Common Road Debris

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Tires aren’t cheap and they aren’t the only thing that costs on your vehicle. After you purchase the car, you have to go through regular maintenance and auto repair in Philadelphia, PA. Those things add up, so you want everything on the vehicle to last as long as possible—especially the tires. The tires are the only part of the car that meets the road and they are the part that most often hits things that might be lying around. There are common things that you will see on the road that you may not be able to avoid. When you can avoid these things, great. But you can’t always swerve, or you might endanger yourself even further. Here are some tips to protect your tires against things you will often see on the road.

Branches

Trees are going to drop those branches and they will blow in the road. After a storm, you’ll see them all over. Running over a small branch isn’t likely a problem, but something larger and harder might push a hold into your tire. Try to look far ahead on the road before you so when you see a branch, you can avoid it. Or, you should, at the very least, take it slow and steady instead of hitting it hard.

Potholes

When the winter months are brutal on the road, you’re going to see potholes pop up all over the city. When you see the potholes, slow down. You can drive around it if at all possible, but if you have to hit it, take it slow. Hitting a pothole hard can lead to a tire puncture or a bend or even crack in the wheel.

Metal Debris

There are lots of workers on the road and things can fall out of their trucks. You might see screws, nails, and other debris on the road that can blow out your tire. Keep a close eye on the road and try to differentiate the colors of the metal with the roadway. That’s not always easy so when you are driving around a new house or another construction area, drive slowly and keep an eye out.

Brown Glass

There can also be broken glass on the road from accident sites, broken headlights, and other things. When you run over the glass, it can get embedded into your tire, which can cause it to fail right away or have a slow leak that makes it in need of repairs.

Having the best tires on your vehicle possible is a good first route. But you want to protect those tires as well. Watch the road and avoid what you can. If you do find yourself in need of auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, or a complete new set of tires, the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center can help you with that. We can get your oil changed, your tires inspected, and do anything else you need at the same time to save you time and help you gain efficiency on your car.

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