Automotive Industry News & Information - Schaeffer Automotive

Fluid levels, tire condition, dashboard lights, and a variety of other items typically are briefly explored whenever you bring your vehicle in for maintenance here at Schaeffer Automotive in Huntingburg, IN, where we are good at noticing things that need repair, but the fact of the matter is that only you know your car. You know when your car feels off when it's been serviced last (or that it hasn't been serviced at all,) and have at least some vague idea of what’s going on with your vehicle day to day. Here are some questions you can ask us next time you come by the shop;

Your vehicle's belts and hoses are essential to the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems, and the engine. Don’t take these routine replacement intervals for granted because they can break down and leave you stranded.

What is the purpose and importance of your belts and hoses? The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft mechanically synchronized to maintain engine timing. Whether serpentine, V-belt, or fan belt (the belts on the outside of the engine), they all transmit power from the front of the engine to accessories that need to be driven, such as the air conditioning, the charging system, and fans. Radiator and heater hoses carry coolant to and from the engine, radiator, and heater core.

If you're prepping to go on a road trip, you need to be sure that your vehicle is ready for the journey. An unmaintained vehicle could be the difference between a good trip and a trip that goes south really quickly. Here at Schaeffer Automotive, we want to remind you of some things to do so you and your vehicle are ready for the road.

The automotive market is always fast-changing, and leaps and bounds have been made in the past couple of decades concerning both diesel and gasoline engines. With gasoline-powered trucks achieving more power than ever, purchase costs being lower, and fuel costs at an all-time low, many fleets are switching over to gasoline-powered fleets. However, diesel still offers some distinct advantages - it really depends on what you're looking for for your fleet of vehicles. Here are some points to consider, from Schaeffer Automotive in Huntingburg, IN.

If you operate a fleet of vehicles, you’ve probably listened to a vehicle and thought “that doesn’t sound right” at least once or twice. Strange noises are an indicator that something isn’t working right, and typically means something is wearing out a lot faster than it should, or is about to fail. At Schaeffer Automotive in Huntingburg, IN, we can tell a lot about the condition of a vehicle just by listening to it. Specific noises and where they come from are often all you need to diagnose an issue and the severity of the problem. Here are some signs to listen out for.

Your drive belts run everything - your AC, power steering, alternator, and water pump are all dependent on the belts that turn them. At Schaeffer Automotive in Huntingburg, IN, our goal is to keep your truck maintained, so you’re never stuck out on the road. Drive belts are a critical part of that goal.

At Schaeffer Automotive in Huntingburg, IN, our mechanics have diagnosed and repaired every transmission problem in the book. We’d like to pass some of our knowledge along to you, in order to help you understand your transmission a little better. Here, we discuss the synchronizers in your manual transmission, and how to know if one of yours is faulty.

Your car’s belts and hoses are essential to the cooling, air conditioning, and charging systems, and the engine. Here at Schaeffer Automotive in Huntingburg, our team takes them seriously as we understand that ignoring the routine replacement intervals will result in a costly breakdown that could leave you stranded. There are so many components tied together with your belts & hoses that it isn't just a simple belt or hose requiring repairs when you allow things to progress to the stage where your car or truck has a breakdown due to a faulty belt or hose.