Hamburg Auto Repair

Ever since the onset of COVID-19, our plans for summertime road trips have been dicey. Though many of our travel plans have gone by the wayside, there is still a silver lining. That silver lining has to do with more quality time with family, staying close to home, saving money, and taking shorter trips around the region.  We choose to believe that there has to be some good that is borne out of challenges. As a result, we would like to share some of our favorite family-friendly summertime activities for 2020 that will allow you to have fun while maintaining social distancing. Woodlawn Beach State Park. We are fortunate to have this beautiful state park so close by on the shore of Lake Erie. You and the family can walk, collect rocks, search for seashells, and enjoy the wide open spaces.  Tifft Nature Preserve. With plenty of hiking and scenery, you and the family can enjoy Mother Nature’s splendor. Walk along the miles of trails, watc ... read more

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, some families spent little time together. So many fathers and their children were crazy busy with work, with school, with church commitments, and hobbies. After Shelter-In-Place orders, the world, as you know, got a whole lot quieter. Yes, it’s been hard, but the time spent at home with loved ones has also been a blessing. It has given us time together, but in an unhurried and less-chaotic sense.  That is why for our June blog, we want to celebrate our Fathers by listing five ways to bond with the father figures in your life for Father’s Day. Fathers are important, and we found a touching TED Talk that brings that point home: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eu22Wgu98VE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Did you shed a tear watching the video? Yes, so d ... read more

There are many ways you can show your Mother's love on Mother's day; here are a few ideas to help make her day special. The gift of a clean car is one kind and generous act that your mom or the Mother of your children won't soon forget. Something as simple as a vacuum, wipe down, and a new air freshener is a wonderful gesture to show how much you care. To take it one step further, scheduling a detail is over the top exciting, and the feeling your mom will get when she climbs into her rejuvenated car will keep her feeling special for a long time to come.  Another idea is to buy her a car wash pass. Even though this might not seem like a romantic gift, it will help her take the time for the carwash. This will give her the feeling of being thought of and loved for many months to come. This is a very thoughtful gesture and is a gift that keeps on giving!  Tinting her windows is an excellent gift. Not only does it help block out the heat and UV rays, tinted windows g ... read more

When it comes to a change in the weather, we often think of longer days and warmer weather, looking forward to trips to the beach and other road trip adventures. If adventures like this are on your to-do list, then it might be a good time to think about your tires. Did you put on winter tires this fall? If so, it is time to go back to an all-season tire. Unfortunately, driving on the same tires year-round can cause all sorts of issues, which is why it is important to change out your tires seasonally.  First of all, if you have studded tires or winter tires, the studs will cause reduced fuel economy and damage the roadway in addition to wearing down the metal studs, rendering them less likely to make it through another season. Each type of tire is made with different rubber compounds. Winter tires are softer, which means they will wear much faster than an all-season, that is engineered with a rubber compound that will hold up to hotter temperatures on the road. If you really think ... read more

Did you find rats in your ride or mice in your manifold? Yikes!! Those buggers can chew up the electrical, tear up your insulation, and damage your ventilation system! They can cost you thousands in repairs if you don't get them out in time.  Mice are everywhere and are not going away any time soon. If you are finding traces of rodents in your car, you will want to take up the good fight right away. One way is to call a pest control business to help you. However, that can get costly. If you are in a losing battle, then perhaps it will be your best choice. If you are game to put up a fight, here are a few ideas on how to get them gone from their nest in your car. Block every entrance and exit in the engine compartment may feel like an impossible task. However, it just takes some time and patience. Start with some screen for blocking and put it across any openings that you can find. Find a buddy to shine a light in the dark and mark them. Traps. When you are not driving your c ... read more

Ahhh… February. The month of love. We tend to think about romantic love for a partner, but don’t forget to show love for your friends, family, pets, and even your car. The best way to show love for your car is through a regular maintenance program. It matters. Period. It’s not uncommon for cars to make it to the  300,000 or even 400,000 mile marker when preventive maintenance has been a priority. We all know there aren’t any guarantees, but we also know that without a doubt, preventive maintenance will help you get the most out of your vehicle and it will definitely extend it’s life.  Just like you know that if you eat well, get enough rest, and exercise, you’ll get the most out of YOUR life! You will function and feel better just like your car. How do I love thee, dear car? Let me count the ways that I can show you: Tire care: checking tread depth, overall wear and tear including side walls, checking regularly for proper inflation, regu ... read more

Road trips aren’t reserved for warmer months. Some of the most beautiful road trips are during winter when everything is a magical white. It may be cold, but if you prepare ahead of time, you will stay warm and safe.  The best way to stay safe is to be smart about your driving. Giving yourself plenty of room around you, having properly fitted chains, not being in a hurry can all add up to safe driving that will get you to where you want to be rather than stuck in a ditch. You’ll also want to make sure your vehicle is in prime driving condition. Here are a few things you’ll want to check on plenty ahead of time in case you need an adjustment or repair:  Tires: Look for the proper tread depth, inspect for general wear and tear, and inflate tires accordingly knowing that they tend to expand and retract based on weather. Proper inflation alone can help your tires grip the road. Lights: All lights need to be in proper working order. Check headlights, running l ... read more

There are pros and cons to both light diesel and gasoline engines. Let’s take a look at both and give you an opportunity to figure out what will work best for you.  Diesel engines are more fuel efficient. They also have more low-end torque. Diesel fuel has 10-15% more energy than gas, which means that they have the potential to go 20-30% than gasoline-powered vehicles. There have been many improvements made to diesel engines over the years that make them so much better than they once were.  Thanks to improved technologies that affect fuel injection and electronic controls, diesels have increased power, improved acceleration, and significantly increased overall efficiency. They are now quieter and run more smoothly. This is due to new engine designs as well and vibration and noise dampening technologies. They also now have much better cold-weather-starting abilities.   They run cleaner than they did, but they are still behind gasoline engines on this level ... read more

When you live in a place like New York, we all know how likely it is that our vehicles will end up with rust issues. That rust affects resale value as well as life expectancy. It takes a toll on your vehicle that can end up costing you a lot of money in the long run. If you love your car and want it to look good for as long as you own it, this is just one more way to keep heads turning as you drive past. Whether or not you’re driving the soccer-mom van or a supercar, everyone wants to look their best and this is one sure way to make that happen. Rustproofing/undercoating prevents, or at least delays, the rusting of the undercarriage of your vehicle. Schultz Auto & Truck Repair uses an oil based undercoating to rustproof your car. It prevents all of the water, salt, debris, and chemicals used to clear the roads from embedding into the paint and metal. For best results, it’s good to have this procedure periodically repeated.  The auto repair team at Schultz Auto &a ... read more

Skates are great for the ice arena, but when our roads turn into ice rinks, you’ll want the best snow tire possible. Even though this year’s winter forecast for Hamburg, NY is warmer than usual, you know it will still be cold with plenty of snow. Make sure that you and your vehicle are ready for the snow. The proper snow tires are going to matter! Schultz Auto & Truck Repair can help you with the right snow tires, and here are some other helpful suggestions for handling this year’s New York winter: You have great snow tires, now you need to make sure they are in the best condition possible. Check for tread depth as well as wear or other damage to the side walls. This can help you stop when you need to even with snowy conditions. Know that all the great de-icing salts and chemicals help to keep the ice down on the roadways but they also wear down your brakes. Make sure to have your brakes checked out this winter. Plan ahead for any winter road trips. Make sure y ... read more