Tommy's Automotive Blog - News, Pictures, and answers to Auto Repair Questions

Text to Pay Available Now

June 8, 2021 – 12:27 pm

You no longer have to worry about picking up your car before the shop closes! Tommy’s Automotive now offers a text-to-pay method. This system sends a text containing payment links allowing customers to easily and conveniently pay for their service from their phone.

This user-friendly service is a safe and secure way to send payments. It allows customers to pay for their service without needing to be at the office to process payments. Try it out next time you visit Tommy’s Automotive!

By Tom Reisch | Posted in About Tommy's | Comments Off

Replacing a Radiator on a 1957 Chevrolet

March 16, 2021 – 1:39 pm

Antique cars hold a special meaning to their owners. Their doors hold memories of a lifetime and keeping the vehicle in perfect shape is necessary.

We recently received a call to replace a radiator for a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. After a few hours, we were able to return this beautiful blue car to its owners. We are excited that we were given the opportunity to work on such a unique car. Check it out:

By Tom Reisch | Posted in About Tommy's | Comments Off

What Tommy’s Has Been Up to This Summer

September 4, 2020 – 9:30 am

Most haven’t been using their car as much due to COVID-19, making this the best time to get your car serviced. Cars that have been sitting for some time may experience problems starting, with the tires, fluids, and more. We will ensure your car is in safe conditions for any of your commutes with our preventative maintenance.

We’ve been keeping busy the past few months at Tommy’s Automotive.

Head Gasket Repair

We recently had a 6.0 L Diesel Ford Truck come into our shop that needed a new head gasket. We tackled this project by lifting up only half of the truck. This allowed for easy access to the head gasket, making this a speedy job.

Maintenance on Red Dodge Charger

We were excited to have this red Dodge Charger come into our shop! When we were finished with this speed bullet, it ran as good as new.

Auto Maintenance & Repair Services

Preventative maintenance can help prevent any costly repairs down the road. If you’re interested in scheduling a maintenance check for your car, contact us today!

By Tom Reisch | Posted in Tommy's News | Comments Off

A COVID-19 Update from Tommy’s

March 17, 2020 – 10:58 am

We hope that our customers are washing their hands and staying healthy during this scary and confusing time. Tommy’s, your auto repair shop in West Chester, is still open for business, but with a few modifications.

We are taking extra care to keep everything in our shop clean and germ-free. We use a product called Spray Nine, a heavy-duty cleaner, degreaser, and disinfectant, which is pictured.

Our Waiting Room is Closed

Our waiting room is not open, so you will need to arrange transportation to and from the shop while we work on your vehicle.

By Tom Reisch | Posted in Tommy's News | Comments Off

Our PA Inspection Process

December 18, 2019 – 12:07 pm

All Pennsylvania vehicles are required to be inspected each year at an Official PA Inspection Station. This is to keep the roads safe for Pennsylvanians.

Since Tommy’s is an Official PA Inspection station, we’re familiar with the process of having a vehicle inspected. This is usually the process we follow when we complete inspections.

Exterior Check

We’ll look at your license plate and make sure it’s fastened onto your vehicle securely and is easily visible. To prevent visibility issues and risk of further damage, we’ll take a close look at your windows and windshield to ensure there aren’t any cracks or chips. We’ll do a test of your doors, windows, and wiper blades to make sure they’re functioning safely. We’ll also make sure your turn signals, headlights, taillights, and any other exterior lights don’t need to be replaced. Lastly, we’ll check your bumpers for stability.

Interior Check

An important part of the inspection is checking your steering wheel. We want to make sure your wheels will turn and that your steering wheel and column are in good condition–we call this part checking the alignment. We’ll check your seatbelts, press your horn to make sure it’s working, and then do a thorough inspection of your brakes. Your brake pads, brake pedal, and parking brake all need to be in working order for your car to pass inspection. You can learn more about our brake repair services here.

Engine Check

During this phase of the inspection, we’ll pop your hood to see what’s going on underneath. We’ll look over your exhaust, transmission, fuel, battery, and coolant systems to ensure that there is no leaking or signs of damage. This is also when we check your emissions system.

Chassis Check

Now, we head underneath your vehicle to check the chassis. We’ll take a look at your shocks, coil springs, axels, and frame to ensure they’re free of wear and damage. We’ll do a final check of your brakes and exhaust system.

The last part of the process is the tires. We’ll check the tread and the depth and look for signs of wear. We’ll ensure there aren’t punctures or other damage. And if your tires need to be fixed, we will be able to take care of that in our shop.

Before your car officially passes inspection, we’ll take it for a test drive.

You can click here to learn more about PennDot’s regulations.

By Tom Reisch | Posted in Maintenence Questions | Comments Off

5 Fluids Your Car Needs to Survive the Winter

October 21, 2019 – 11:59 am

Winter is here- which means it’s time to prepare your car for harsh temperatures. No matter the season, your car requires certain fluids to operate properly. Make sure your car is running right by visiting a trusted mechanic to check the following:

1. Oil

Your vehicle is a complex machine that is made up of several different parts; oil lubricates the parts found in your engine. Over time, the oil in your car becomes dirty, which makes your car work twice as hard to operate smoothly. To ensure your car receives clean oil, you should get your oil changed every 3 months or 3,000 miles.

In fact, changing to a different oil all together may be necessary. When temperatures drop in the winter, your car requires a thinner oil to operate effectively. Thicker oils can harm your engine because the viscosity makes your oil pump overwork to reach all the parts it needs to lubricate the engine.

We all travel at some point during the holidays and car maintenance may be the furthest thing from our minds, but it is important to remember. If your car continues to run on dirty oil, you may be asking Santa for an expensive engine cleaning!

2. Anti-Freeze

Anti-freeze is a genius liquid that keeps your engine’s cooling system running. In colder temperatures, your cooling system is vulnerable. However, if you add this substance, you could be saving your car from serious radiator damage.

Make sure to purchase a ready-mix version, also known as an engine coolant. Be careful when purchasing a concentrated form. This variety means you will have to do some diluting; you want your system to carry 50% water and 50% antifreeze.

Check with your mechanic about your car’s requirements! Manufacturers may have different recommendations depending on the make, model, and year of your car.

3. Brake Fluid

Brake fluid matters because this is what keeps you safe on the road! It is required by law that you pass a brake test, but in extreme weather conditions, you will want to make sure your brakes are in tip-top shape.

A mechanic can easily assess your brake fluid for you. If your fluid levels are below the lower marking indicated on your brake fluid reservoir, this could mean your brakes are worn or leaking.

Don’t take a chance this season! High functioning brakes become particularly important during unpredictable winters.

4. Automatic Transmission Fluid

Like oil, transmission fluid keeps all the bells and whistles in your car running appropriately. Generally, you should change your transmission fluid every 30,000 miles. Some cars have sealed transmissions, which means a professional will have to refill this for you.

5. Windshield Wiper

Worn wipers are the worst, especially during inclement weather! Your wiper fluid reservoir requires two blends throughout the year: a summer blend and a winter blend. It’s imperative to make this switch; if not, your windshield fluid will freeze to your windshield in temperatures below 32 degrees.

Is it time to visit us for a check-up? Contact us to schedule an appointment today.

By Tom Reisch | Posted in Car Questions, Driveability | Comments Off

Summer Driving Tips

June 29, 2019 – 8:10 pm

Q: Tom, I am taking a car trip with my family this summer, what are some things I should check before we leave?

A: Long car trips for summer vacation can really turn nasty if your vehicle breaks down. We have compiled a short list of things to check out before you take that long-awaited trip to the shore.

The Cooling System: Take a look at the coolant container under your hood and top it off if necessary. If you need to add coolant more than once in 6 months, or if you smell a sweet burning odor, you probably have a leak. Also, if you can’t remember the last time your coolant was flushed, it’s a good idea to have that done. Dirty fluid can clog parts of your cooling system and cause your vehicle to overheat.
Tire Pressure: Be sure you check your tire pressure on all tires and make sure it is in the recommended range. Remember that there is a difference between the maximum pressure listed on the tire and the recommended pressure. Also, for every 10 degrees tire pressure increases by one pound. If your tires were filled in the freezing cold this winter, they may be overpressurized in the summer heat. For those of you packing your car to the brim for vacation its not a bad idea to look for recommended tire pressure for “heavy loads” in your owners manual. If you’re taking a long trip, you should invest in a full-size spare tire if you don’t have one already.
The Oil: Driving long distances in excessive heat puts a lot of stress on your motor oil. If you are due for an oil change, don’t wait until after your trip. Oil that has been used for more than 3,000 miles breaks down more easily and can put more wear on your engine. If you are taking a heavy load or towing a trailer, some car manufacturers recommend using a thicker type of oil that is better suited for the heat.
The Air Conditioning: Turn on your AC to make sure you are getting nice cold air out of the vents. If it is not as cold as you remember, it is probably time to have your AC recharged. If you are getting cold air, then your AC system is working and there is no need to get it checked. If your AC is not working and you think you can tough it out, be careful. In some newer cars, the AC is tied to several other components that may not function correctly if the AC is in need of repair.

If for some reason you are not taking your car or truck to Tommy’s Automotive on Carter Drive in West Chester, you can ask your mechanic to check for the following.

The Cooling System: Including the radiator, coolant, belts, hoses, cooling fans, heater core and water pump.
Tires: Check tread depth, uneven wear and tire pressure.
The Front End: Check ball joints, tie rod ends and steering components.
Change the Oil: Look for leaks.
Check the Air Conditioning System: Refrigerant level, compressor clutch and belts.
Check the Tranny: Are you close to the recommended service interval? Is the fluid nice and clean? Any leaks?

By Tom Reisch | Posted in Driveability | Comments (0)

Spring 2019 Instagram Roundup

June 28, 2019 – 7:54 am

Spring finally arrived in West Chester, and now we’re enjoying these summer days we missed so much during the cold months.

This season, we had an old school low-rider in our shop. The kind that’s rigged to move up and down. You can see the before and after photos below.

In May, some of our friends at Harley Davidson of Chester Springs had some issues with a Vanderhall. Fixing it was definitely a head-scratcher, but we were able to get it sorted out and returned to the owner.

We took apart the steering wheel of Jesse’s Mercedes to fix some wiring issues. That ended up being more challenging than we anticipated.

By Tom Reisch | Posted in Photo Galleries | Comments Off

Spring: Check Your Belts and Hoses

May 19, 2019 – 10:44 am

Belts and hoses are some of the most overlooked parts of your engine, but they are essential to the engine doing its job properly. Belts and hoses are typically checked every time your car goes in for a tune-up (every 30,000 miles), but checking them is easy and can save you a lot of hassle. In fact, nearly a third of all cars and light trucks have belts or hoses that should be replaced, according to a recent survey.

Hoses in your engine are designed to keep the engine cool. This is a pretty important job, but as hoses get older, they can leak or deteriorate. A faulty hose is a very easy (and inexpensive) fix, and if it is left alone, it can result in much more serious and expensive repairs to the engine.

Belts do a lot of different jobs within the engine. As with hoses, belts start to deteriorate over time (especially with cold temperatures) and can fray or even snap. If a belt snaps while you are out on the road, the only way to get the car moving again is a tow truck. Avoid the problem altogether and simply have your belts checked regularly and replaced as necessary.

By Tom Reisch | Posted in About Tommy's | Comments (0)

Winter 2019 Instagram Roundup, and Tommy’s is Hiring!

March 29, 2019 – 8:05 am

It’s been another great winter here at Tommy’s Automotive, though we must say, we’re excited about spring.

In March, we met a new friend, Utah, who was adopted from the Brandywine Valley SPCA. He has already become an indispensable part of our team. In December, we got to do burnouts in an old rusty truck!

We saw no shortage of cool cars in the shop this winter, including a GT R33, a 1957 Hudson Hornet, and Jesse’s BMW E60.

As part of our job search promotion (we’re hiring!), Peyton shook one of her toys in a manic frenzy to show her excitement.