DELAWARE & PENNSYLVANIA AUTO REPAIR

4 Easy Ways You Can Take Charge of Your Vehicle’s Health Now is the best time to get caught up on auto repair. Think about it—summer is approaching fast! You want to spend your summer on vacation, not in the repair shop! It’s time to prioritize where you want to spend your time and money. If you haven’t already booked summer plans, you’re probably starting to. Are you taking your car on vacation? If the answer is yes, making sure your vehicle is ready for the road is step one to a seamless vacation experience. Here are four ways you can take charge of your vehicle’s health—not just during this season, but year-round! 1. Be Proactive with Preventative Maintenance   Stay on top of your oil changes, tire rotations, fluid services, and other regular maintenance your vehicle needs to perform at its best. Our service team will work with you to create a maintenance schedule based on the needs of your specific vehicle. We a ... read more

Since 1986, we have provided northern Delaware and the surrounding region with high quality, full-service automotive repair and maintenance services. During these 36 years, we opened five stores in Delaware and Pennsylvania, with plans for future expansion. We have three stores in Delaware—Hockessin, Wilmington, and Pike Creek—and two stores in Pennsylvania—Kennett Square and Swarthmore. Our Swarthmore store is slated to open soon by the end of 2022! Our full-service repair services extend to Brake, Electrical, Battery, Steering and Suspension, Transmission, Preventative Maintenance, Radiator, Fuel System, Tires, Coolant System, and EVAP and Emissions Services. We service most makes and models, including Domestic, Asian, European, Standard, Hybrid, and Electric vehicles. Currently, we do not pro ... read more

Tips to Saving Money When Buying New Tires Getting new tires for your vehicle is no easy task. People shopping for tires are often stuck sifting through the overwhelmingly diverse range of tire types, sizes, and brands on the market today. And since your choice in tires can affect everything from car maintenance requirements to gas mileage – not to mention how long you go without changing them again – it is worth making the right decision. Before you buy, read through this guide to all the information necessary to get a tire that’s right for your vehicle, at the right price.   Seasonal Tires: Do You Need to Switch Tires For Winter? Before 1977, when Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company released the very first “all season” tire, people in temperate climates had to change their tires along with the change of the seasons. Some people, especially those who have been driving for many years or drive an older car, still believe they may need t ... read more

Why do I need an alignment? Alignment is necessary to ensure that your vehicle’s suspension (the system connecting the wheels to the powertrain and the rest of the car) is angled properly. Harsh roads, bumps, and curbs can push your car out of alignment over time. The wearing of tire rubber and sagging of suspension components, like the springs, over time also contributes to changing wheel angles that affect alignment. How does an alignment work? During an alignment, vehicles are secured onto a lift that clamps on to each of the four wheels. These clamps connect to a computer that assists the technician’s adjustments to each of the wheels. Doing an alignment also gives the technician an opportunity to make sure that all components of the car’s suspension is functioning normally. If any part of the suspension or steering is broken or needs replacement, this needs to be done before alignment can take place for safety reasons. An alig ... 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

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

With Gas Prices on the rise, it is important to use your Fuel most Efficiently. By taking the following suggestions into consideration, you will cut down not only Fuel but also Maintenance Costs. Undergo Servicing on time It is a good idea to consult an ASE Certified Mechanic, such as the team at Paul Campanella’s Auto & Tire Center, before something terrible happens, not after. The Filter and Oil should be changed about every 4,500 Miles. To avoid additional Expe ... read more

Four Common Car Noises and What they Mean When turning on your car, you hear a loud squeal. When turning the corner, you hear clicks coming from your steering wheel. Let’s dive-into the four most common car noises and what they mean. #1: Squealing noise coming from the engine area after turning on the car. Commonly caused by a worn-out serpentine belt that is slipping on the metal pulleys inside the engine. This belt is important because it helps power devices such as your alternator, starter, water pump, air conditioning compressor and radiator fan. Most of the time the belt can be readjusted, and the problem can be fixed. While other times the belt just needs to be replaced. #2. High-pitched squealing while braking Another common car noise comes from your brake system. High-pitched squealing while applying your brakes can point to worn out brake pads that need to be replaced. The more metallic the sque ... read more

Why are my tires deflating in the cold weather? It's not your imagination, cold weather can (and does) affect tire pressure. Here's a closer look at why. Air contracts when the temperature drops—and the air inside your tires is no exception. The reason this occurs has to do with the speed at which air molecules move. Warmer molecules move faster. These fast-moving molecules spread further apart and take up extra space. Colder molecules move slower and stay closer together taking up less space and don't push up against the walls of your tires with as much pressure. Though the decrease in pressure due to temperatures is perfectly normal, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry about your car’s tire pressure. You should always check your tire pressure on cold days, if your tires appear deflated, or any time you have a reason to believe your psi isn't ideal. Here are some things you can expect from driving with low tire pressure ... read more

How can I prepare for my vehicle’s state inspection?...Delaware and Pennsylvania explained. Your state inspection involves many different systems and components on your vehicle that affect its safety, which is why it's important to have your car pre-inspected at a qualified, licensed service center, such as Paul Campanella’s Auto and Tire Centers A typical Delaware automobile state inspection consists of a safety inspection covering such items as tires ... read more