DELAWARE & PENNSYLVANIA AUTO REPAIR

What is leaking from my car? Looking at the color of the puddle is one of the easiest ways to determine what’s leaking from your vehicle. Here are a couple of colors to look for. Yellowish/Green—This is an indicator of a problem with your coolant or antifreeze. If your car cannot stay cool this can lead to major car problems down the road. Light Brown/Black—This is a sign of an oil leak which may be coming from a variety of places. It could be a problem with your oil gasket, oil filter, oil coolant line or your oil pressure. Reddish Brown and Thin—This could indicate a leak in your power steering. Time is your biggest enemy against a power steering leak. As cars age, you could spr ... read more

Why is my Car Battery Draining So Quickly? There are many reasons for a car battery to drain quickly. The four most common reasons for a battery to drain quickly are below. When your battery is showing signs of quick drainage, it is a good idea to have your battery inspected or even replaced at Paul Campanella’s Auto and Tire Center. Old Battery: Batteries that are old, have simply been drained completely and are unable to hold a full charge. It is recommended to replace your battery every four to five years. Parasitic Drain: Radio presets, security alarms or clocks running after the engine is off can drain your battery. The most common causes o f a parasitic drain are under hood lights, trunk lights, headlights, or gl ... read more

What is the difference between a Brake Flush and a Brake Bleed? There are two types of brake fluid service procedures: bleeding and flushing. Paul Campanella’s Auto and Tire Centers recommend a flush as the best way to service your brake fluid. Let’s look at both and see which makes more sense for you. Bleeding your Brake System: The bleeding process involves manually pumping enough new fluid through your brake lines to simply eliminate any air that may be in them. The vehicle’s four brakes are bled individually.] Flushing your Brake System: The brake flushing process goes a step beyond. Flushing fully replaces all of your old brake fluid with new clean fluid. This procedure is done with a flushing ma ... read more

Should I replace my water pump and timing belt at the same time? While a water pump and timing belt don’t do the same job in your engine, they have a few things in common which is why they are often replaced together. A timing belt is what drives your water pump, and they also have similar life spans, so it makes sense to have them replaced at the same time. Additionally, the water pump is directly adjacent to the timing belt. Since getting to the timing belt is such a labor-intensive job, it’s a good idea to have the water pump replaced at the same time to alleviate the effort required to access them, in the end, saving you time and money. A prime example that indicates a bad water pump is an overheating engine. A damaged water pump is unable to circulate coolant through your vehicle’s engine which will lead it to overheat. If you find your engine getting overheated now and then, it is a sign and must be fixed immediately. Have a mechanical exper ... read more

Why does the gas pump keep clicking off? There is a reason gas pumps have an annoying habit of shutting off. Gas pump nozzles are designed with a device on the end that turn off the fuel flow when the gasoline runs back into it. This is a safety mechanism which prevents the gas from coming out and spilling when filling up the tank. Typically, this indicates that the tank is full. However, you may experience an instance where your tank is not full, yet the gas pump is still clicking off. Though this constant clicking off, when filling a non-full tank, may seem alarming, it is not necessarily a major problem. There is a tiny hole near the bottom of the gas pump nozzle connected to a small tube. Normally air flows through the tube while you’re filling the tank. The clicking noise you are hearing is the fuel backing up in the fill tube. Basically, the gas is coming out of the gas pump at a pressure that is too fast for the car to take in. If the air vapors do not g ... read more

Why is my car burning gas so quickly? When your car is burning an excessive amount of gas, it not only increases your spending on fuel, but is also a potential indication of expensive problems. Becoming familiar with causes that cause poor fuel economy is a great way to keep your car running as efficiently as possible, which will save you money in the long run. At Paul Campanella’s Auto and Tire Centers, the three most common reasons for fuel inefficiency include the following: Clogged Fuel Injector: The presence of carbon, old fuel, and residue cause clogging of the fuel injector. When this debris builds up it hinders the free flow of fuel. Worn Spark Plugs: Having dirty spark plugs can cause bad MPG. When fuel is sprayed into the combustion chamber, but the spark does not ignite the fuel, it doesn’t combust, the fuel gets wasted, and causes bad gas mileage. Poor Driving Habits: Aggressive driving, exc ... read more

Are coated rotors worth it? The primary purpose of a brake rotor is to slow your vehicle. The friction created by the pads against the rotors help to stop car movement in emergency situations and when you want to park. The reason for coating rotors is to prevent rust from forming on the rotor. If rust is allowed to form, it will eat away at the metal and cause chunks of material to break off.  While coated rotors do cost an additional amount, they are more durable and will last longer than uncoated rotors. If you looking to spend less money on replacement parts in the long run, come to Paul Campanella's Auto and Tire Center and have us coat your rotors

What is a Brake Fade? For a vehicle to slow down, the brake pad and the rotor need to create a friction in the braking system. When this friction does not occur, it is referred to as a “brake fade”. Brake fade is commonly caused by overheating from overuse of your brakes. Some drivers will put their foot on the brake pedal and continuously apply pressure. As a result of the constant friction, an enormous amount of heat will be produced, which in turn can cause the brake pads or rotors to stop working. If you are driving and experience any of these brake fade symptoms, attempt to bring your vehicle to a complete stop, wait 10 minutes and then slowly test your brakes. Next steps? Contact Paul Campanella’s Auto and Tire Center for a complete brake system inspection

Experiencing Not So Good Vibrations? These vibrations could indicate warped rotors. It is impossible to watch for this visually, however vehicle vibrations can indicate rotors that need servicing. The biggest sign that your rotors may be warped is vibration in the pedal when pressure is applied. Even the slightest pressure could cause a great vibration. You may also experience vibrations from the steering wheel. This is because the brake rotors connect to the same spindle that is connected to the wheels. It is not safe to drive with da​maged rotors! So, if you are suspecting an issue, immediately take the right action and bring your vehicle to Paul Campanella’s Auto and Tire Center, it could save your life

How do I Improve my Gas Mileage? With the rise in gas prices, it is a great time to reflect on your driving habits. There are a few simple things you can do to improve your car's fuel efficiency.  Limit your idling. Idling uses more fuel than restarting your car and gives off 80% more pollution than when your car is in motion. When you are waiting for someone, consider turning your car off.  Keep your speed steady. After you hit 45-50mph, your car begins to be less fuel efficient, and it gets worse as you go faster. It's a good idea to use cruise control when possible. Additionally, rapid acceleration and hard braking use up fuel quickly, so you will also want to avoid those actions when you can.  Check your tire pressure. When your tires are under inflated, fuel consumption can increase by as much as 3%. You will also risk wearing down your treads faster.  Perform regular maintenance. When you follow the maintenance schedule recommendations provid ... read more