DELAWARE & PENNSYLVANIA AUTO REPAIR

6 Ways You Can Avoid Auto Repair Shop Anxiety Does bringing your vehicle to an auto repair shop make you nervous? Maybe you've had bad experiences with auto repair service in the past, like a faulty repair or a complete rip-off. Most people have at least one poor service experience that made them never want to return to that shop.  If you're bring business to an auto repair shop, you should never feel belittled or anxious. Poor customer service is the most telling sign of a company's priorities and intentions. The good news is, there's more than a few steps you can take to ensure you and your vehicle receive the best service possible. 1. Stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance. If there’s one thing that will save you time and stress, it’s knowing your vehicle and its maintenance schedule. No, you don’t need to be a mechanic (we have plenty of those!) but it’s basic knowledge like knowing how often you ... read more

Who's your mechanic? If you are unable to answer that question, you're in the right place. Establishing an auto repair shop home saves you more than money down the line—it saves stress and time!  Think of mechanics as primary care providers, but for your car. You contact your PCP when your body feels strange, so why wouldn't you have the same resource for your car? Here are 5 reasons why establishing an auto repair shop home benefits you and your vehicle: 1. You save money With gas prices as high as they are, you want to spend as little as possible on your vehicle, right?  When you have a mechanic you trust, you remove the risk of getting scammed or overcharged at a shop you're visiting for the first time. At Paul Campanella's Auto & Tire Center, you're guaranteed quality service that matches the price tag. You get what you pay for when it comes to auto repair, so w ... read more

Drive Safe This Holiday With Campanella's 5-Point Winter Car Maintenance Checklist Does cold weather make you lose tire pressure? What about brake performance? If these are concerns you have about your vehicle this winter, you’re in the right place. Your car deserves a nice holiday, too! Having a reliable vehicle during the winter months provides peace of mind and a relaxing holiday season. Poor maintenance has a negative impact on vehicle performance in cold and snowy weather. Here are five common car concerns during winter months and what you can do to prevent them: 1. Coolant System Coolant prevents your engine from freezing in the winter and overheating in the summer. It cools down your engine and operates your heating system. Any blockage in your coolant will prevent heat from working—during the cold months, this is not ideal! Did you know? Our technicians at Paul Campanella’s Auto & ... read more

The cost of brake repair depends on several factors: vehicle make and model, parts cost, labor fee, and necessary repairs. While the average cost for a full brake repair ranges from $400 to $700, these factors do not guarantee a fixed price. Your vehicle’s make and model plays a major role in determining the price of its various parts. Ceramic brakes, for example, cost more than semi-metallic brakes—but also tend to last longer. High-end vehicles that use higher quality material usually have more expensive parts. The cost of parts is determined by the manufacturer and varies depending on the vehicle make and model. At Paul Campanella’s Auto & Tire Center, we use trusted third-party suppliers to order parts. If the third-party does not have the right part, we will order from the OEM, or original equipment manufacturer. Because they are more expensive, we only resort to OEM if none of our suppliers have the part your vehicle needs. The cost of a brake job also depen ... read more

Brake failure is attributed to numerous factors, almost all of which trickle down to improper brake maintenance. Like any system in your vehicle, your brakes will fail if you do not follow a recommended maintenance schedule. The frequency at which you replace your brakes will vary according to vehicle usage. Always remember to ask your local auto repair shop for their personalized recommendation when it comes to vehicle maintenance. 1. Brake fluid A big factor that plays into your vehicle’s brake health is the brake fluid. This hydraulic fluid generates pressure needed to stop your vehicle effectively. If there’s a leak in the reservoir or if the brake fluid becomes contaminated, your brake system will start to degrade and eventually fail. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you are changing your vehicle’s fluid systems routinely. While the general recommendation for a brake fluid flush is every 2 to 5 years or 30,000 miles, each vehicle is ... read more

Cars need oil changes periodically to function. Oil is a lubricator for the moving parts of your vehicle’s engine. Think about all the internal components creating friction inside a car engine. That’s a lot of heat! Oil carries heat away from the combustion chamber and protects the engine from carbon and grime build-up. Overtime, the oil itself degrades and piles onto the mechanical parts if it is not changed periodically. As grime accumulates in the oil, the oil becomes less liquid and more solid, slowing down the cooling process. Neglecting old oil will strain and overheat your engine. Just like metal-to-metal brakes are ineffective, solidified oil will not prevent the metal components in your car from grinding together and damaging the car.   How often should I change my oil? Every manufacturer has their own recommended maintenance schedule, which can be viewed in the vehicle handbook. It’s best to ask your local auto repair shop for their ... read more

Finding a mechanic you trust your vehicle with may seem like a daunting task, but it’s easier than you think. Most people have at least one poor experience with an auto repair shop, and that experience can shape how they view interactions with other shops they go to. After you find a shop that does the kind of work you’re looking for, you may wonder how much you can trust them with your vehicle and money. So, what does credibility look like in an auto repair shop? 1. Look for an ASE Blue Seal of Approval. The fastest way to check a service center’s credibility is an ASE badge. This is the most widely acknowledged and accepted certification for professional technicians. Shops that employ technicians who are trained in some or all eight test categories receive this seal from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. ASE is a non-profit established in 1972 to advance vehicle service quality and ensure that automotive professionals a ... read more

As the National Car Care Month of April comes to a close, it seems right to go out on an electrifying note. Electric vehicles are becoming more commonplace on the roads today. Their attractive, eco-friendly design has convinced many drivers to go electric. Unfortunately, the price tag on these vehicles makes them less accessible (the Nissan Leaf is the most affordable EV in the game with an MSRP starting at just under $30,000). However, high-end companies like Tesla have struck close to perfection and quality with their sleek designs, attempting to make it worth the consumer's while. The name “Tesla” is an homage to Serbian engineer Nikola Tesla, creator of the alternating-current, or AC, induction engine used by the vehicle. Because Teslas run on pure battery power, they don’t need the usual fluid changes and transmission maintenance that standard vehicles require. The company does recommend ... read more