Get True "Service" with your next Service

When people take their car in for a Service, many shops for speed and convenience, will only change the Oil and Oil Filter. This may be better for your daily planning, but is really what is best for your vehicle? Is it enough?

The answer is an unequivocal NO.

In truth, just changing the Oil and Oil Filter is better than doing nothing, but it isn’t even close to what your car needs. So, what does your car need when you bring it in for a Service?

The answer is simple. Your car needs to be fully checked over. At Pugh’s Service Automotive, we don’t just change your oil and filter. During a Service, we will look at all the other fluids, including Transmission Fluid, Anti-Freeze, Washer Fluid, Power Steering Fluid, and Brake Fluid. If any of those need topping off, we will re-fill them to the proper levels.

In addition to checking your vehicle’s fluids, we also check the condition of your vehicle’s Belts and Hoses, the Tire Inflation and Wear, as well as the condition of your Windshield Wiper Blades. We also perform a courtesy 30-Point Inspection that is completely free of charge.

If issues are found while we are performing our inspection, we provide an estimate for the needed repairs and schedule an appointment. If your schedule makes waiting difficult, we offer Shuttling Services to your work or home, and we also will happily return your car too you upon its completion.

This has been our level of service since 1945, when Horace Pugh, Sr. first opened Pugh’s Service Automotive as a gas station. This level of service was often expected back then, and while it is rarely seen today, we still hold ourselves to that high standard.

Imagine having this kind of an Inspection every time you bring your car in for any sort of maintenance! A good shop, a shop that cares about you more than their pocketbook is HUGE! At Pugh’s Service Automotive we perform a 30-Point Vehicle Inspection on every car every time it comes in for any kind of Maintenance Service, and it’s done for free.

So, what’s in a 30-Point Inspection?

A 30-Point Inspection is all the items listed above, including the inspection of your Steering, Suspension, Drive, Exhaust, Computer, Lighting, and Braking Systems.

In addition to the 30-Point Inspection, Pugh’s Service Automotive will provide a print-out of your vehicle’s Maintenance Schedule, called a K Plan. The “K” in K Plan stands for 1000, because your plan is broken into 1k mile intervals and each vehicle has a specific Maintenance Plan.

This plan can be found in your owner’s manual and is very important. Doing the maintenance prescribed by your manufacturer when directed is a must and will save you money.

Years ago, Fram Oil Filter Company had a commercial that featured a shop owner performing a vehicle service. His message was to those who didn’t properly maintain their vehicles. He said, “You can pay me now or pay me later.” Paying later always costs much more in both money and time, and it is never convenient.

Here’s our advice. Find a shop like Pugh’s Service Automotive to completely inspect your vehicle. A shop should be able to prioritize the needed work with estimates, by always looking at safety first, then the manufacturer’s plan.

Today’s vehicles are not as simple as they once were and finding a business that watches after you more than their pocketbook will give you the confidence to make the best decisions for you and your vehicle. Hopefully this will help you save money in the future by enabling you to find an Automotive Shop that cares about YOU!

Please feel free to call us at (302)734-4231 or visit us at 728 Leipsic Road in Dover.

How to Find Your College Freshman a Trustworthy Automotive Repair Shop

It’s almost that time of year again! Time for parents to see their kids off to college!

If you are one of these parents, a parent who is sending away a newly minted Freshman to an out of state school, you are likely going out of your mind trying to prepare.

One way to prepare you and your child is to scout the area for Trustworthy, Reputable, and Skillful Automotive Mechanics. Should something happen to your kid while they’re gone, you want to make sure they aren’t taken advantage of.

As we all know, vehicle repairs can be very expensive; add to that the cost of tuition, and your anxiety level goes through the roof.

While we can’t help with paying your college tuition expenses, we can provide some helpful tips to finding trustworthy Automotive Repair Shops… And hopefully reduce your stress!

If there is one thing we can all agree on, going to an Automotive Dealer is always more expensive than going to a local shop. Since every dollar counts, choosing the right shop is paramount to saving your money.

First and foremost, you should start looking for an automotive repair shop early. The earlier you start researching Automotive Shops near your child’s college, the more prepared you can be when you leave your kid for the next few months.

Below is a list of what to look for from the car repair center that will be watching over your child’s safety and your wallet over the next four years and perhaps beyond.

     1)      Local Reputation: I don’t mean look on social media for Google/Yelp Ratings, though those can help, but TALK to real folks that live and work in the area. If you’re out eating, shopping or whatever you are doing, ask questions.

     2)      Take Notes:  Take down the addresses and phone numbers of Automotive Shops that are local to the area of your child’s college. This way, you can visit some when you are in town visiting their college, too.  

  

     3)      Schedule a Service: Once you narrow down your list, make an appointment to get a feel for the staff. While you’re there, take notice of certain things. For instance, what do they offer on a Service? Do they have a Waiting Area? Do they Offer Shuttle Services? Will they pick you up when your vehicle is complete? These are all services that we at Pugh’s Service Automotive have offered for years, at NO CHARGE!

     4)      Going Above and Beyond: When changing your oil and filter will they do additional checks? Here at Pugh’s Service we perform a Free 30-Point Inspection on every car, regardless of the reason of the visit.

  

     5)      Get to Know the Owner: Ask many questions, like “Do you have kids in college?” “Will you call me with an estimate whenever work needs to be done?” “Can you prioritize the repairs, I’m on a budget, my kid’s in college?” Having an owner that understands your position of value and safety for your child is HUGE!

     6)      Are They ASE Certified?: This is a tough one. I know some amazing technicians that are not ASE and some techs can pass a test but in practice couldn’t repair the little red wagon, which goes back to #1 on the list. Local Reputation.

Here at Pugh’s Service we are surrounded by colleges and have a ton of experience with earning the trusts of parents and students alike.

Did you know that many students stay in the area of the college they attended, even after graduation? It is important that you find a Car Repair Center that views your young adult as a person, and not a number, and treats them as such.

I would like to thank such a young collegian for the inspiration to write this blog. Nakia Bracey, thank you and congratulations on graduating from Wilmington College. Lastly, a shout out to all of our amazing past and present students from Delaware State University, Wesley College, DelTech and Wilmington College.

You all are valued within our community and are special to us at Pugh’s Service.

Why do my Tires Wear Unevenly?

Just had your Tires Replaced and it seems like they are already worn out?

If you have this concern, you are not alone. If you feel as though this question applies to you then take a look as some of the tips that may shed some light on your problem.

         Brand of Tire:  Make sure that the Tires Installed on your vehicle match what you use it for. Also ask yourself if the Tires Installed match your Driving Style and the Driving Conditions it is exposed to.

Secondly, remember that Tire Brand does matter. If you ask your shop about Tire Brands that they stock, and it turns out that they only deal in one brand then it is time that you to go to a more versatile shop.

Some Tire Brands are softer than others which helps with Road Grip but have a shorter lifespan. The Mile Rating on a tire can be a big factor in determine what Tires should be installed on your vehicle.

At Pugh’s Service Automotive we install a variety of tires, depending on our customer’s needs. Whether it be Goodyear, Michelin, or Cooper Tires, we can get them.

         Where is the Wear?: If your tires seem to wear out too fast, then you should check the tire for Unusual Wear Patterns.

If your Tire Wear Pattern can be seen mostly on the sides, then that could indicate a few conditions.

One of the more popular conditions for Side Wear is not Rotating your Tires enough. Tires should be Rotated and Balanced every 6k to 8k miles.

Your vehicle’s Alignment, or lack of proper alignment, is another cause for Tire Wear seen on the Side Tread of you Tires. That, or a Steering Linkage could be faulty.

Thankfully, Pugh’s Service Automotive performs Free 30-Point Inspections, which can catch issues like this.

You also want to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. If they are Under Inflated, then it is likely you will see Side Wear as well. Newer vehicles have TPMS systems that will cause a warning light to come on if the Tire Inflation isn’t within the proper specifications.

On the other hand, if your tires show a lot of Center Wear, then it is very likely that your tires are Over Inflated. The specifications for proper level of Inflation of your Tires is normally located on the inside of the Driver’s Door Jam.

The final type of Wear Pattern is Cupping or Scalloping. This type of Wear Pattern shows up as “cups” or dips around different areas of the Tire Tread. This type of Wear Pattern is caused by several factors. One is your tires not being Properly Balanced. Another likely cause is bad suspension parts, such as shocks or struts.

          Does Your Tire Bulge: If you inspect your tire and find that there is a Bulge in the Tire Tread or Side Wall then you need to take your car to a shop immediately. A Tire Bulge is a sign of a Defective Tire and should be replaced as soon as possible.

Driving with a Tire Bulge could cause a blowout, which will put you and anyone driving around you in danger.

Armed with this information, we at Pugh’s Service Automotive hope that you are better able to save your money by making sure your tires last longer.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 302-734-4231 or visit our site www.pughsservice.com.

Second Opinion Auto Repair Inspections Welcomed!

                                                                           

At Pugh's Service Automotive we get a lot of Walk-In Customers that come for Second Opinion Auto Repair Quotes given by other companies.

Unfortunately, many of these New Customers feel guilty for seeking Second Opinion Diagnoses and Quotes. We at Pugh’s Service Automotive have some good news for you…

Seeking Second Opinion Automotive Repair Quotes is nothing to be ashamed of! In fact, it’s a great idea! Here are some reasons why….

1.) It can Save Money:

Many places do Courtesy Checks as a part of their initial Inspections. Pugh’s Service Automotive also does this as a Free 30-Point Inspection. However, there are places that will try to up-sell you on repairs that don’t need to be completed at that time.

Brake Problems illustrate this point quite well. We at Pugh’s Service Automotive have had several people tell us stories. They went to one service center to and were told that they would need new Front and Rear Brakes. Upon our Intake Inspections though, we would find that only one set of Brakes needed Replacement.

Of course, if on set is at half of its depth or less, we will let you, our customers know. However, we will recommend when a replacement is optimum based on your Driving Habits.

2.) Making sure you Fix the Right Problem:

We would all like to think that all Auto Repair shops would be on the up and up, but that just isn’t the case anymore. At Pugh’s Service Automotive we have heard quite a few stories about how customer X had repairs done at shop Y two plus times, only to never have the issue fixed.

Getting a Second Opinion on your Auto Repair and Quote can help stop this from happening.

Like we mentioned above, we give Free Inspections, and that includes Second Opinions for those who are unsure of the first Diagnosis.

Electrical and Charging Issues that can be difficult to Diagnose are the typical cause of this. When these issues pop up, some shops will start “Throwing Parts” at the issue without knowing the root cause.

At Pugh’s Service Automotive, we will keep you in loop the entire time through our Diagnosis Process. This way you never feel that we are not being completely up front with you.

3.) It Gives You Peace of Mind:

Instead of your Car, imagine that it was you, your child, or your pet that was having issues. One doctor tells you that there is nothing wrong without doing any tests. Would you settle for that? No!

You should use the same logic for your car. If you feel like the issue isn’t getting fixed, then search for a Trustworthy Auto Repair Shop. One that you feel confident in. If you don’t, then how can you ever achieve peace of mind?

Nobody wants to be second guessing their bills, because they are wondering if the Mechanic fixed the right issue. It causes undo stress, and we at Pugh’s Service Automotive are dedicated to alleviating that stress.

Next time you find yourself second guessing your decision to get a Second Opinion Auto Diagnosis remember two things. One, Second Opinions are good things and can save you time, money, and stress. Two, Pugh’s Service Automotive welcomes customers like you and always has your back!