November 2017

If your technician tells you that you need transmission repair, you may feel the blood drain from your face. Transmissions are an important part of the vehicle, but repairing them can also be very expensive. How did you get in this position? What are you going to do? Could you have done anything differently? If you need transmission repair in Philadelphia, there might not be much you can do about it. However, if you do not yet need the repairs, there are definitely things you can do to avoid them. Here are a few tips to take to heart.

Careful Shifting

While your vehicle is a mechanical device and it seems like it can take a lot, the more gentle you are with it, the longer it will last. You wouldn’t throw your favorite sweater into the wash cycle several times a day and then dry it and expect it to last. A gentle touch can help things last longer, it’s as simple as that. Whether you have standard or automatic transmission, you need to be careful about how you shift. Never throw your automatic transmission from drive into reverse, for example, and make sure you have the clutch fully pushed down when you go from one gear to another in a standard transmission. Being careful about how you shift can help you avoid transmission repairs.

Regular Maintenance

You don’t need as much maintenance on a transmission as you do the engine, but like an engine, the transmission has fluids that need to be changed out from time to time. You won’t have to do this every oil change, but keep an eye on your owner’s manual to find out how many miles you can drive without changing the transmission fluids. If you change the fluids out at the proper time, you are much more likely to avoid transmission repairs.

Fix Small Things

There are signs that you need transmission repair that can pop up along the way. Don’t ignore them! If you notice something not working properly, it is best to get your car to the shop as soon as possible. Don’t panic yet, though. Sometimes, it might seem like your vehicle needs transmission repair, but really it is just a faulty or broken sensor somewhere that is making things act up. By fixing that small thing fast, you avoid needing actual transmission repair down the road.

Find a Reputable shop

When you have an investment you use as much as your vehicle, it is important to have a reputable auto shop to help you keep track of everything you need in terms of maintenance and tune-ups. If you need  transmission repair Philadelphia, PA, you have someone safe and trustworthy you can go to and pay reasonable, fair prices. But with any luck, you and your technician can avoid those types of transmission repairs with regular maintenance. Contact Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270 for an appointment. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re happy to help you avoid transmission repairs!

If you use your vehicle a lot to get around Philadelphia, you probably keep track of the mileage on your vehicle. You need to keep an eye on how far you’ve driven because you don’t want to go too far on the current oil in your vehicle. You understand that oil changes are important to how your vehicle operates. So you stop in to auto shops at the right intervals to get that oil changed out. But have you ever thought about the quality of the oil change? Maybe not. An oil change is an oil change, right? Not exactly?

When it comes to anything on your vehicle, quality matters. For example, you don’t want to get new brake pads that are too cheap and inexpensive and don’t work well. You’ll have to fix them again sooner, right? The same can be said for your oil changes. Not just any oil will do. Low quality oil will go through your vehicle faster so you’ll need another oil change sooner. And your vehicle may not run as efficiently in the meantime.

So how do you know what kind of oil your vehicle takes? Your first line of defense is your owner’s manual. It will tell you what type of oil your vehicle requires. There may be a few different options and you can choose, but as long as you get something along those lines, you’ll be doing something good for your vehicle. Now that you know what kind of oil you need, you have to ensure that the auto shop uses it. If you stop into a quick oil change place because you are short on time, who knows what they are using. They might charge you for the convenience of a quick stop, but put substandard oil in your vehicle. Or they may try to charge you extra for expensive oil that you don’t really need. Remain informed as a driver and you can avoid these expenses and pitfalls.

One of the best ways to ensure that your vehicle gets what it needs every time you get an Philadelphia, PA oil change is to find an auto shop you can trust with your vehicle. That’s as simple as calling Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270 for your next oil change appointment. Our expert technicians know just what your vehicle needs in terms of oil and we won’t use anything without your permission. We also won’t charge you for things that don’t deserve to be on the bill. And we won’t place anything on the bill at all without checking with you first. An oil change is a small thing that helps your car run efficiently. But if we play our cards right, together we can prevent major repairs from happening by paying the right kind of attention to your vehicle in the tune-up process. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we hope you’ll give us a try the next time you need an oil change.

If you have ever taken a biology or anatomy class, you may be in awe of all of the different parts human bodies have. These parts have to work together to create a healthy human being. If one thing goes wrong, it can throw things off in other areas as well. While vehicles aren’t quite as impressive, they also have a lot of parts. And likewise, if one thing goes wrong, it can throw off a lot of other things. If you want your vehicle to run efficiently and effectively, everything needs to work well together.

As a vehicle owner in Philadelphia, it’s okay not to know everything about how your car operates. There are experts and technicians for that! But you do need to understand that one thing can throw off a lot of other things. If look in your manual, you will see a lot of recommendations for a variety of different items. You’ll need to get an oil change every so often, based on your mileage, for example. You might notice that the transmission fluids need to get changed at 100,000 miles or so as well. When you see something about the timing belt, you also need to take notice.

The timing belt is just what it sounds like, something that helps the timing of your vehicle. If that belt is “off,” it’s like one thing going wrong in your body that can throw a lot of other things off. You need to make sure that belt doesn’t wear out or all sorts of things can go wrong. But how do you do that when you don’t know much about vehicles or how to check the timing belt? It’s simple enough, really.

First, pay attention to your owner’s manual. It is a wealth of information when it comes to how you need to treat your vehicle. If you don’t want to keep it on your car seat and look at it all the time, simply mark down certain mileages on a sheet that you can refer to from time to time. Mark down when you need to have oil changes, tire rotations, brake inspections, and so on. It will be easy to see when you need a Philadelphia, PA timing belt replacement if you get it checked at the proper time.

Second, find an auto shop you can trust. If you visit on a regular basis for your oil changes and tune-up services, timing belt replacement won’t come as a surprise. Your trusted technicians can let you know when it is wearing down so you can prepare for timing belt replacement in the near future.

Finding that trusted auto shop is as simple as calling Schafer’s Auto Center for an appointment at 215-755-1270. You can trust that we won’t steer you wrong. We won’t tell you that you need timing belt replacement unless you really do! Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we look forward to helping you out with your repair and tune-up needs.

When you own a vehicle, you are responsible for a lot of things. You have to fill it with gas if you want to get from place to place, and you have to make sure your license is up to date. You will need to get registered within the state and get the proper insurance. To be a responsible driver, there’s a lot to keep up with! But you have to have transportation so you do your best. To keep your car in proper running condition, you will also need to get tune-up service from time to time. Since it’s not something that is required, it can be hard to remember and hard to convince yourself to make the effort. But here are just a few reasons why tune-up service is a good idea.

Safety Concerns
You never know what’s going on with your vehicle unless you hear something wrong. Sometimes, when those indications are ignored long enough, things can go horribly awry. Tune-up service can help you prevent things like brake failure or getting stranded by the side of the road. It’s a safety issue and you don’t want to be caught in the midst of a dangerous situation. A tune-up will help you avoid those situations by fixing small things before they get larger.

Money Savings
No one wants to have to spend money on their vehicles, but cars are an investment and they won’t keep running if you don’t pay attention to them. It can be hard to talk yourself into a tune-up service because it takes time and also a little bit of money. But when you think about what you are avoiding (plenty of issues that could pop up with your vehicle) you are actually likely saving quite a bit of time and money. Tune-up service can make sure your vehicle is running effectively and efficiently. If there’s something little going wrong, it can be fixed at that time for a small price. On the other hand, if you avoid services, much larger things can go wrong and cost you a lot more later on.

Efficiency
Buying gas for your vehicle is necessary, but you don’t want to buy any more than necessary. You also have to have tires on your car, but you don’t want to replace them before you absolutely have to. Getting a tune-up service can make sure your vehicle is efficient in a number of ways. That will help you avoid those larger expenses as long as possible. You’ll buy less gas and fewer tires over the life of your vehicle.

When you are ready to take advantage of the benefits a Philadelphia ,PA tune-up service can bring along with it, contact Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270 to make an appointment. We’ll take a look at your vehicle and ensure that it is running safely and efficiently so you get the most out of it. We’re located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re here to help!