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

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

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

Is your car ready for summer? If you're not sure, make an appointment at your local car doctor before your next trip. Especially after the winter months, it's important to check the all systems in your vehicle are running normally. The last place you want to be on a road trip is on the side of the road. Use this guide to ensure critical components in your car are ready to beat the heat. 1. Ready your rubber. Rubber is a huge component of every standard vehicle on the road today. It’s not only used for tires—the belts and hoses under the hood and windshield wiper blades are made of rubber, too! Intense summer heat can wreak further havoc on cracked rubber. If you or your technician eye any concerning damage, its best (and cheaper!) to replace a cracked serpentine belt now rather than on the side of the road. Tires are held together by glue, and glue and sun do not mix. Whenever you see ripped treads and loose rubber on the highway, that’s th ... 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

With gas prices through the roof and another Earth Day come and gone, it’s time to talk about you. Specifically, what you can do to increase your car’s fuel economy. Fuel economy refers to the number of miles a car can drive per gallon of gas. 1. Avoid aggressive acceleration. Road rage costs you, so why sweat it? According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, drivers who obey speed limits and practice gentle braking and acceleration improve their car’s fuel economy up to 40% in traffic and up to 30% going highway speeds. Gradual acceleration is also kinder to your car, preventing faster break-down. 2. Lose the junk in your trunk! Extra weight reduces fuel efficiency in your car. Smaller ... read more

Why is my Car Pulling to the Side? If your car is pulling to the side, it is a pretty good indication of a Problem with your Car’s Suspension System. This Pulling can be attributed to many things including Uneven Tire Pressure, Uneven Tire Wear, Poor Alignment, or a Sticking Brake Caliper. Driving over a pothole or up on a curb may break your Control Arm, and alter the Alignment of your Vehicle. While it’s generally not hard to realize the ... read more

Why is there noise coming from the air vent when turning on the fan? 1. Leaves stuck in the blower motor. When the fan is turned on, the leaves will spin around the blower motor making a rustling sound. 2. Bad vent blend door or actuator. The actuator responsibility is to control the vent blend door for a specific function. For example, it is used to move the vent blend door for temperature changes, defrost mode, recirculation, fresh air and so on. When the vent blend door or actuator fails, it can make a flapping or slapping noise. 3. Failed blower motor. When a blower motor is failing, it can make a whistling noise, whining noise, grinding noise, and other odd noises. Usually, the noise will gradually increase as the fan speed increases. At this point the electric motor is failing and will need replacement. 4. Rattling noise. Sometimes, objects can fall into the air duct through the vent entrance and make a rattling noise when the vehicle is in motion or when the ... read more

What causes my Disc Brakes to get Stuck? Having a Broken Disc Assembly means the vehicle won’t move or will create an excessive amount of Heat Damaging multiple components of your Vehicle. You may see Poor Acceleration or braking, the Vehicle Pulls to one side or an increase in fuel consumption. 1. Applies to the Brake Pads and Carrier but doesn’t apply to all Carrier Assemblies. The slots where the Brake Pads sit can become filled with Road Debris or Rust, in the end making the Brake Pads Stick. When Brakes are applied, they can force the Pads against the Rotor which is unable to release in the end. 2. The Caliper Piston may become caught in the Caliper Casting. This is caused by a buildup of Road Debris or Corrosion usually caused by a Failing Boot. Another reason can be caused by applying the Brak ... read more