Hamburg Auto Repair

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

  Wheel alignment is more important than many vehicle owners realize. A lot of people think it’s just about keeping the vehicle driving straighter, but it’s much more than that. It affects the tire tread wear. It affects handling of the vehicle on straightaways and turns. It affects your safety as a driver. In other words, if your wheel alignment is off, you’ll want to get it fixed as soon as possible. Schultz Auto and Truck Repair in Hamburg, NY is your local wheel alignment headquarters. We can test the alignment and let you know if there are any concerns. If there are, we can make alignment repairs and ensure that your vehicle is performing its best on the road. There are three things we look for when testing for wheel alignment: 1. Camber If you are l ... read more

Your vehicle has many different rubber components that perform very important functions. They conduct fluids, air and lubricants to the engine and transmission. They provide strong seals that prevent fluid leaks and provide insulation. Some help keep certain parts running smoothly. The cold Buffalo winters are especially hard on rubber components such as fan belts, gaskets, door/window seals and air/fluid hoses. As you drive on wet roads, water, grease and grime get kicked up from underneath the car. This can lead to corrosion in your belts, seals and hoses. If anything starts to leak or slip, it could lead to much bigger problems. Let's look at some of the most common rubber components in your vehicle: Timing Belt This is a notched rubber belt that allows the crankshaft to turn the camshaft. If it is slipping, then your engine will no ... read more

When some people imagine their car's axles, they think of a long pipe that simply connects the two wheels. This may be what an axle looks like on an old stage coach your kid's Pinewood Derby car, but it is not at all representative of modern axle and drivetrain designs. The truth is that the more modern the vehicle, the more complex the drivetrain and axle systems are. Therefore it is important to understand some of the key components that provide power and control to your wheels and tires. Split-Axle Design Most modern vehicles will use split-axle designs, meaning there is a separate axle connected to each wheel. This greatly improves suspension and handling of the vehicle. The two halves of the axle are connected by a differential, which is a very important component that controls the power sent from the drive shaft to each wheel.  Differential ... read more

Winter is almost here. Throughout Buffalo and Upstate New York, the weather will just continue to get colder, bringing rain, snow, sleet and ice with it. As a driver, you need to be extra careful while out on the roads over the next several months. You should also be mindful of your car or truck’s maintenance. Here are some maintenance tips that will help you contend with the cold winter weather and challenging driving conditions: Check/Change Your Windshield Wipers Having effective windshield wipers will be helpful for visibility when there’s rain, snow, sleet or fog. Get your wiper blades checked out and replaced as needed. Test Your Battery If your vehicle is struggling to start on cold mornings, your battery may be drained. Visit Schultz Auto and Truck Repair for a battery test, recharge or replacement. Check Your Wheel Alignment Handling is ... read more

Winter is coming quickly and it’s more important than ever to make sure your tires in good shape. They grip the road and help keep you safe when driving conditions get more challenging in Buffalo’s wet, snowy and icy season. Here are some of the things you need to know about tire maintenance: Tire Tread Depth Obviously, if your tire treads are low, you will lose traction and control. There is an easy way to check the tread depth at home using the “penny test.” Stick a penny upside down in the middle of your tire treads. If there is any space between Lincoln’s head and the top of the tread, then your tires are getting dangerously low. You will want to consider getting new tires before something bad happens. Uneven Tire Tread Wear Be sure and perform the tread test on all four tires (and probably the spare tire while you’re at it). Under ... read more

Since we work on vehicles with both diesel engines and standard gasoline engines (as well as hybrids) at Schultz Auto and Truck Repair, we get this question all the time. What makes diesel and gas engines so different? The Similarities Let’s start by looking at the similarities. Both are types of internal combustion engines using a four-stroke process. They convert the fuel into power by repeated, controlled explosions that move the pistons up and down inside the cylinders. That motion turns the crankshaft and the car is able to be propelled into motion. The Differences Where diesel and gasoline engines differ is in how those explosions take place. A gasoline engine will mix the fuel with air. It is then compressed by the pistons and ignited by the sparks coming from the spark plugs. In a diesel en ... read more

  People often underestimate how important tires are to our safety as drivers. They provide traction, handling and stability on various road conditions and in all types of weather. Properly-cared-for tires can even improve gas mileage in most vehicles. Tires are literally the only thing between your vehicle and the road itself. Therefore, it is important to take care of them. If air is leaking from one of your tires or the treads are getting low, it’s a good idea to get your vehicle checked out by the wheel and tire repair experts of Schultz Auto and Truck Repair in Hamburg, NY. We’ll keep your tires in good condition, so you can enjoy a safer driving experience. Tread Depth Tread depth is very important to the performance of your tires. Once your tires start to go bald, you lose a lot of traction and emergency braking ability. In other words, when the tires can’t g ... read more