Hamburg Auto Repair

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

Most of us like to jump in our cars and go without thinking much about anything other than where we are headed. Especially when we are young and we can’t wait to get to a party, a friend’s house, or some other fun event. It is, however, important that everyone holds a bit of knowledge about the powerful vehicle under the control of our foot on the pedal, hand on the shifter, mitts on the steering wheel.  Know your car: Make sure someone teaches you about your specific car. From lights to brakes to everything in between, set it all up the ways that will keep you safe before ever pulling away from the curb. Understand all of your lights, set all mirrors to provide you with the least blind spots, and set your seat to provide you with comfort but also with the best ability to properly handle your steering wheel.  Owner's manual: Contrary to popular belief, your owner’s manual isn’t just there to take up room in your glove box or to satisfy the automa ... read more

Many of us love to travel with our dogs. In fact, many of us don’t even like to leave our best friend behind when we go to the grocery store. We love our pooches, but that doesn’t mean it’s always best for us to bring them with us wherever and whenever we go out. It’s important to realize that our vehicle’s interior heats up very fast. When it’s only 70 degrees outside, a car interior can climb to 104 in a half an hour and up to 113 within an hour. The penalties for leaving a pet in your car ranges from a $50 fine up to a felony. Never leave your pet alone in your vehicle. There are other ways to protect your pooch when traveling or running errands that won’t leave your pet behind waiting for you in the car. It’s not a law in New York to restrain your dog in the backseat, but there are plenty of discussions encouraging lawmakers to take that stance. Some states already have those laws in place. While we don’t here, it is the safes ... read more

Now that winter is long gone and spring showers are gone you can finally get ready for summer months. You might be ready for summer after you have stocked up on sunscreen, watermelon, and a new swimsuit. Think again! Just like you prepare your car for winter weather you also need to prepare your car for the hot blistering weather. Keep these tips in mind during all of our upcoming heat waves. The most important thing you want in the hot weather is a fully functioning air conditioning system in your car. To check this simply turn your car on and the AC, you obviously want cold air to be blowing out. If its just air blowing out then most likely something small needs to be replaced like an air filter.  Not only do you want to stay nice and cool during the hot weather but so does your car. Check your car's radiator to make sure it has enough coolant. If you glance at your dashboard and see the temperature gauge is too high this could be an indicator that there is a leak. A pro t ... read more

Summer Time is the best time to road trip. You can roll down the window, let your hand flow with the air outside, or stick your head out the window. If you do, make sure to hold onto your sunglasses and hat so they don’t fly off your head. If you’re ready to escape Western New York pack a bag, jump in your car, and start driving. It’s time for a little getaway, you deserve it. A road trip doesn’t have to be a 20+ hour trip, instead consider a few-hours drives to explore one or more of these easy road trips. If you are passing through Buffalo you must stop for a sample of the Finger Lakes local wine and get a bottle for the place you’re staying. While you’re there you can explore the United States history or shop small shops in villages hidden in the hills. If you travel a little further up the map you will hit the famous Niagara Falls. Make sure to pack your passport.  While in Canada you can also visit it’s the biggest city, Toronto. To ... read more

Though we don’t repair motorcycles, we are huge fans of them. Schultz Auto & Truck Repair in Hamburg, NY will do motorcycle safety inspections as required by the State of New York. For Motorcycle Awareness Month, consider getting a safety inspection, triple-checking your blind spots, and keeping a watchful eye for any motorcyclists on the road. After all, motorcyclists could be your father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, or friend.  :-) May is Motorcycle Awareness Month. There are ways for the average motorist to be better at sharing the road and there are definite ways that motorcycle riders can better protect themselves. The more that motorists understand basic motorcycle driving behavior, the easier it is to help keep them safe. The more that motorcyclists understand their limits, the roads, and their bikes, the best they can protect themselves. It’s all of us paying attention and having a willingness to share the road that will keep all of us driving ... read more