Gebbie's AutoCare

Gebbie’s AutoCare: Use The Correct Fluids In Your Vehicle

gebbies265 — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:52:06 +0000

Big advances in automotive technology have led to the development of high-tech fluids to keep pace. A simple example of this is the cooling system. For decades it was primarily made out of iron, steel and rubber hoses. There was one kind of coolant that protected these components from corrosion.

Now cooling system components are made with various metal alloys and plastics. These materials require different additives to protect them from corrosion. Since the materials used vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, we now have a number of different kinds of coolant at Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale. And it’s important to use the right coolant for your automobile. If you pour in the wrong kind, it won’t protect the cooling system and may even void the warranty. Of course, your friendly Gebbie’s AutoCare advisor will know the proper coolant to use. If you’re concerned you may have use the wrong fluid, be safe and have your Gebbie’s AutoCare technician flush the system and start fresh with the correct fluid.

Brake fluid is confusing for some people in Pennsylvania. For a very long time, most vehicles used Dot 3 brake fluid. Now we have Dot 4 and Dot 5. Some Lansdale people mistakenly think the higher numbers are an upgrade. You know, if 3 is good then 4 must be better. That’s not how it works. They are different formulations to meet the requirements of differences in brake systems. Only one of them is recommended for your automobile.

Transmission fluid is the same thing. With the tremendous engineering advances in automatic transmissions, there have been several new types of fluids developed to protect and lubricate them. Nowhere are the advances in automotive fluids more evident than in motor oil. Many new weights and formulations have been created to meet the demands of today’s modern engine design.

Modern automobile engines have more parts and much tighter tolerances. Every year, engines make more power and get better fuel economy in Lansdale. And with all the complication and sophistication, they still have to be durable. That’s where the new grades of engine oil come in. They have to be formulated to lubricate, protect and clean all of those automobile engine parts, big and little. The oil has to be thin enough to get into small passages, yet resistant to vaporization.

Your vehicle may have come from the factory with synthetic oil and/or transmission, brake, differential fluid, etc. If so, your recommended service intervals will be based on synthetic-type fluids and you should use the same type when your automobile is serviced at Gebbie’s AutoCare.

Because grades of oil and types of coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc. are so carefully matched to the vehicle, take care to always use the proper fluid if you are topping off at home. Check your automobile owner’s manual or ask your Gebbie’s AutoCare service advisor. The wrong fluid can cause damage.

Give Tom Gebbie a call at Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale

Gebbie’s AutoCare
215.855.2226
735 East Main Sreet
Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446

At Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale Pennsylvania (19446) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 215.855.2226. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

Wheel Alignment Service At Gebbie’s AutoCare In Lansdale

gebbies265 — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:08:21 +0000

When all of a vehicle’s wheels are lined up exactly with each other, your wheels are in alignment. Hitting a road hazard in Lansdale or even just the normal bumps and bounces of everyday Pennsylvania driving can cause your automobile wheels to be out of alignment. This can lead to expensive premature tire and suspension wear.

Here are some alignment basics from Gebbie’s AutoCare:
The first angle is called toe: do the wheels point in towards each other or away from each other at the front of the tire.
The next angle is called camber: do the wheels tip in or out at the top.
And finally, there is castor. Castor measures the angle where the front axles attach to the vehicle.

The ideal alignment for your automobile was designed by its engineers. Gebbie’s AutoCare alignment service starts with an inspection of the steering and suspension – so see if anything’s bent, broken or worn out. Then the Gebbie’s AutoCare technician will look at tire condition. From there, the automobile is put on an alignment rack and an initial alignment reading is taken. The wheels are then aligned to manufacturer’s specifications.

Your owner’s manual probably has a recommendation for how often your automobile alignment should be checked – usually every couple of years. If you suspect an alignment problem with your automobile, get it checked at Gebbie’s AutoCare before you suffer expensive tire or suspension damage.

Give us a call

Gebbie’s AutoCare
215.855.2226
735 East Main Sreet
Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446

Schedule A Suspension Inspection At Gebbie’s AutoCare

gebbies265 — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:52:45 +0000

Today’s North Wales car care article focuses on your suspension system. After many years and tens of thousands of miles, your automobile suspension system components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive. As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth North Wales highways, your shock absorbers will last a lot longer than if you do most of your driving on bumpy roads or hauling heavy loads.

In addition to just wearing out, Gebbie’s AutoCare customers need to know that suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road.

Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your automobile manufacturer and Gebbie’s AutoCare recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection, your North Wales service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out: The tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly as you drive around North Wales. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your automobile dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it’s definitely time to replace them.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come into Gebbie’s AutoCare for a suspension inspection. Same if you’ve been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other automobile suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well. If your suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let us take care of your suspension components at Gebbie’s AutoCare.

When you replace your shocks, it’s usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That’ll give you more even handling. Talk with your service advisor at Gebbie’s AutoCare because you don’t want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

Deciphering The Menu Board At Gebbie’s AutoCare: F to W

gebbies265 — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:09:37 +0000

You may not be familiar with all of the items on Gebbie’s AutoCare’s menu board so here is a quick description of some of the typical services that might be listed. Remember, the board is there for reference; speak to your Gebbie’s AutoCare Service Adviser about other possible needs or services.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Fuel System Cleaning: Over time, the fuel system gets gum and varnish built up. A fuel system cleaning at Gebbie’s AutoCare gets rid of that and cleans out the fuel injectors. Saves gas as you drive around Lansdale and on Lansdale freeways, by the way.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Headlamp Replacement: Halogen and standard headlamps gradually fade. When one burns out, replace both so they’ll have the same brightness. Also, if your headlamp lenses are yellowed or cloudy, you can have them professionally restored to like new-condition. As your friendly Gebbie’s AutoCare advisor for information.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Inspections: Lansdale drivers get inspections for many reasons. Maybe they’re going on a trip or just want to make sure their vehicle’s ready for summer or winter in Lansdale. Maybe they just bought a used car and want to give it the once over. An inspection at Gebbie’s AutoCare may reveal some things that are broken or are getting close to having a problem.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Oil Change Service – there are several options: Some Lansdale auto service centers offer just an oil change and new filter as an option. Most will also check and top off all of your other fluids and do a quick visual inspection with a full service oil change. There may also be options for higher mileage fluids or an upgrade to synthetic oil.

Gebbie’s AutoCare PCV Valve Service: PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It’s a little part that releases pressure from the engine. It can get gummed up and that can lead to engine damage. Just needs to be changed now and then.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Power Steering Service: Often overlooked. Your Gebbie’s AutoCare technician will evacuate the old fluid, clean out the system and replace it with clean fluid. Keeps the system running well for a long time.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Serpentine Belt Replacement: That’s the belt that powers the engine’s accessories like the alternator, air conditioner, power steering and brakes. You’ll want to replace the serpentine belt at Gebbie’s AutoCare before it breaks or wears down too much, because that’ll lead to other problems.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Shocks and Struts Replacement: This starts with an inspection of the suspension components. Shocks last a long time and wear out slowly, so many Lansdale motorists don’t notice when it’s time to change them. If they’re worn or leaking, they need to be replaced.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Transmission Service: This involves removing the transmission fluid and replacing it with clean fluid. It’s like an oil change for your transmission.

Gebbie’s AutoCare Tire Rotation and Wheel Balancing: The tires are rotated from front to back using the recommended rotation pattern. This helps tires wear more evenly. Wheels need to be balanced from time to time to keep them turning without any wobble or bounce. Helps the ride and saves tire wear as you drive around Lansdale.

Give us a call

Gebbie’s AutoCare
215.855.2226
735 East Main Sreet
Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446

Making Your Vehicle Last With Regular Service in Lansdale

gebbies265 — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:33:42 +0000

A lot of people in Pennsylvania have older vehicles. They’re good commuters, grocery-getters or toy-haulers. They enjoy that fact that they’re paid off, or soon will be. They would gladly like to keep their vehicles for 200,000 miles or more – as long as it’s economical to do so.

There are plenty of people in Lansdale whose vehicles are running after 150,000 or 200,000 miles. We can learn from what they’re doing to keep our own cars on the road.

A common denominator is that they never skip an oil change. That may sound a bit unsophisticated, but it’s really not. First off, oil is the life blood of your engine and it needs to be clean to properly lubricate. Skipping oil changes leads to clogged oil filters and sludge that can damage your engine. Enough said.

There’s another reason why the scheduled oil change is so important. It’s simple – a Gebbie’s AutoCare professional is going to be looking at your car. All of your fluid levels will be inspected and topped off so they won’t get so low that damage can be done. If there is a significant fluid loss, let’s use brake fluid as an example, your Lansdale technician can look for the cause of the loss and find the problem before it leads to an accident or costly repair.

Your Lansdale service technician will also visually inspect the vehicle for worn belts and hoses, uneven tire wear, leaking shock absorbers and more. Problems get addressed before they lead to repairs that cost more than the car’s worth. And your Lansdale service advisor will be able to remind you of other services that the factory recommends you get done.

Just think of that oil change the same way as you do about going to the dentist for your six month cleaning and checkup. Don’t skip it.

Of course, good maintenance costs money, but it’s far cheaper than new car payments.

Give us a call to schedule your next oil change today. You can find us online at Gebbie’s AutoCare, or you can find us in Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446 at 735 East Main Sreet. Or simply give us a call at 215.855.2226.

Tracking True In Pennsylvania; Wheel Alignment In Hatfield

gebbies265 — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:32:41 +0000

Wheel alignment is often overlooked by busy Hatfield car owners until serious tire damage has been done. One wheel can be knocked out of alignment from the rest by hitting a curb or pothole on Hatfield roads.

The tires will wear out very quickly and will need to be replaced prematurely. It could also lead to suspension damage. Conversely, worn suspension or steering components can lead to alignment problems for Hatfield motorists.

But the big issue for Hatfield motorists is safety. When your automobile wheels are out of alignment, the vehicle will pull to one side, which could lead to an accident. When you’re out of alignment, you should have it taken care of right away at Gebbie’s AutoCare.

Signs of alignment problems are: Your car pulls to one side. Also, your steering wheel may not be centered when you’re going straight. If you see the edges of one or more tires rapidly wearing down, you should have your technician at Gebbie’s AutoCare look it over.

If you’ve been in an accident in Hatfield that involved a wheel, you should get your alignment checked. A big jolt can seriously knock things out of alignment, but Hatfield drivers also need to understand that a series of smaller ones can add up. Worn steering or suspension components can also lead to alignment problems for Hatfield drivers. That’s why your automobile manufacturer recommends periodic alignment checks.

If your automobile owner’s manual doesn’t specify, once a year might be appropriate. Or check with Tom Gebbie or your service advisor at Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale. He’ll also be able to tell you if your vehicle requires a four wheel alignment or if just the front wheels can be aligned.

One thing’s for sure: the cost of the alignment at Gebbie’s AutoCare is cheaper than having to buy a couple of new tires because of neglect.

Under Pressure: Your TPMS System In North Wales

gebbies265 — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:34:57 +0000

Flats, blow outs, skids and longer stopping distances can all be the result of North Wales folks driving around on under-inflated tires. Now, it’s hard to tell when a radial tire is under-inflated but your service technician at Gebbie’s AutoCare can help you. The tire may not look low until it gets below 20 pounds – which is significantly under-inflated.

Your newer automobile or light truck might be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This technology has been used by Pennsylvania race car drivers for years. They are able to head off problems from under inflation by closely monitoring tire pressure on the track.

Obviously, TMPS systems don’t come free for North Wales car buyers. U.S. government studies have estimated the net costs of the TPMS system itself, maintaining the system, replacement of worn or broken parts and tire repair cost increases. The costs are partially offset for North Wales drivers by savings in fuel and tire wear. There’s also a saving in property damage and travel delay. The net cost is estimated to be between $27 and $100.

The government predicts fewer fatal accidents. They estimate that is will cost between three and nine million dollars for every life saved. This new safety equipment will help North Wales motorists avoid the most common vehicle failure, and possibly a catastrophic accident.

Serpentine Belt Replacement At Gebbie’s AutoCare

gebbies265 — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:22:26 +0000

Today’s Gebbie’s AutoCare article focuses on your serpentine belt. Your serpentine belt is a long belt that’s driven by your engine. It winds around several accessories that power important automotive systems. Let’s go over them.

First, the serpentine belt drives your air conditioning system. Next, the belt powers the alternator.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. In some automobiles, power steering may have an electric drive and power brakes can be vacuum driven.

And, on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump (on some cars, the water pump is powered by the timing belt).

Your Gebbie’s AutoCare service technician can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Lansdale drivers should be aware that there’s a special, spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley and sometimes an extra pulley call the idler pulley. Their job is to make sure there’s a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn’t slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. That’s why it’s often recommended that the tensioner, and the idler pulley if so equipped, be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

All in all, the serpentine belt’s an important part for the function of your automobile. And it’s not that expensive to replace at Gebbie’s AutoCare – so it’s good to do so before it fails.

It’s New To Me – What To Do When You Buy Used In Lansdale

gebbies265 — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:28:59 +0000

Lansdale auto owners sell cars for a lot of different reasons. Maybe they just want something new or maybe they’re selling the car because it has a problem or two. So how do you know what you’re getting into when you sign the papers for a used car in Pennsylvania?

When a car comes into Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale with maintenance records, we can see if the factory maintenance schedule has been followed.

If it doesn’t come with records, Hatfield and North Wales used car buyers have to assume the worst. How many Lansdale people who are turning in a leased vehicle at 36,000 miles will perform the transmission service recommended at 35,000?

So what do you do? At Gebbie’s AutoCare, we suggest getting on track with the maintenance schedule and staying on track. Lacking evidence to the contrary, assume it needs an oil change. The thorough Gebbie’s AutoCare inspection that comes with a full service oil change will reveal basic problems.

Be sure to bring up any specific concerns with your Gebbie’s AutoCare service consultant. When buying an older used vehicle in Lansdale, there’s more to be concerned with because there’s been more time for things to go wrong. A used vehicle inspection at Gebbie’s AutoCare is a good idea: the peace of mind is well worth the money.

In addition to the scheduled maintenance items, look for uneven wear on the tires. That could be a symptom of an alignment problem, worn shocks, or some other suspension issue. Listen for unusual sounds and pay attention to strange odors. Keep track of any problems you have when driving so you can consult with your friendly service advisor at Gebbie’s AutoCare in Lansdale.

If you just bought a used car in the Lansdale area, give us a call at 215.855.2226.

Budgeting for Auto Maintenance In Lansdale Pennsylvania

gebbies265 — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:30:27 +0000

Everyone in Lansdale Pennsylvania does our best to budget for scheduled vehicle maintenance.

What’s hard is planning for unexpected automobile repairs.

The truth is that our vehicles can stay on our Pennsylvania roads longer than ever before with proper maintenance. That’s because of improved vehicle design and manufacturing quality. But some of those same improvements also lead to higher repairs costs for every automobile or vehicle.

There’s a tool that can be found on Edmunds.com that you can use to prepare your Lansdale Pennsylvania service and repair budget.

Let’s suppose you have a used Toyota Camry – a very popular car in the Lansdale area…

It’s now paid for and you’d like to keep it running for the next three years. You can go to Edmunds’ True Cost to Own calculator and enter your vehicle’s data. The calculator will provide estimates of what it’ll cost to service and repair your vehicle in Lansdale over the next five years. The estimate’s based on where you live in Pennsylvania, manufacturers’ recommendations and repair experience for your particular model.

Of course these are just estimates – there’s no way to predict what’ll actually happen to the car in your driveway, but it’s a good starting point. The calculator also has estimates for depreciation, financing, insurance, Pennsylvania taxes and fuel costs.

Let’s focus on maintenance and repair in the Pennsylvania area: This table at Edmonds.com shows that the average monthly cost of maintenance and repairs for our example in Pennsylvania is about eighty-three dollars. That may sound like a lot, but compare it to a new car payment.

So if you set aside eighty-three dollars a month, you’d go a long ways towards taking care of routine maintenance and being prepared for the unexpected repairs that arise.

Some folks in the 19446 zip code area are afraid of what can go wrong with their older car so they buy a new one. That’s fine if you really want a new car, but if you properly maintain your older vehicle, you’ll save a lot of money on new car payments and insurance. It just makes good economic sense when times are tight in Lansdale.