Now that it’s the beginning of a new year, it’s a great time to reflect on all of the changes that happened at Tommy’s in 2015. We had a great year of growth, which included our first full year in our bigger (now 8500 square feet) and better location in the Matlack Industrial Center in West Chester. Thanks to all of our new space, we were able to service 1,000 more cars in 2015 than in 2014. It was also our first full year with Peyton as our resident guard dog. Although there were times when her bark was certainly worse than her bite, we found that a quick treat and belly rub sweetened her right up.
Perhaps the biggest change to happen in 2015 is Tom Sr’s decision to retire. This decision comes after 40 years of dedicated service in the auto repair industry. In addition to being a career mechanic, he taught his son everything he knows and made Tommy’s Automotive possible. Although we’re sad to see Tom go, this is certainly a well-deserved accomplishment. Still, his son admits he’s looking forward to finally being the big Tom on campus. We wish him all the best in his post-mechanic life.
Although we lost one member of the team, we did gain two more. See below for more information about Blair and Alex.
Alex
Alex is a skilled mechanic with experience working at independent shops and dealers like Mitsubishi and Dodge. His specialty lies in diesels, like his very own VW TDI SportWagen. Alex lives in Downingtown with his wife and their two dogs. He enjoys extreme hobbies such as mountain biking. Learn more.
Blair
Blair is a VW certified master technician and a great asset to the Tommy’s Automotive team. In addition to being a skilled tech, Blair is passionate about boxer adoption. Specifically, he supports Adopt a Boxer Rescue and proudly sports his adoption magnets on his tool box. Learn more.
Did we provide great service to you in 2015? If so, let us know on our reviews page! Happy New Year!
The holidays are full of cheer, bright lights, and wintry weather. But did you know winter weather could also mean a dead car battery?
Snow isn’t the only piece of winter that can take a beating on your car. When the temperatures drops, so does your battery power. In fact, when the temperature dips below freezing, your car’s battery loses 33% of its power. When the temperature falls below zero, you car battery can lose over 50% of its power.
It’s not too late to winterize your battery. Follow these tips:
Test the Battery. We recommend testing your car’s starting and charging systems every 6 months.
Charge It. Use a battery charger to maintain the proper charge levels. A fully charged battery is less likely to freeze in the cold.
Check Up. Make sure you inspect your battery cables, posts and fasteners.
Feel free to give Tommy’s a call if you need help winterizing your car.
With fall weather starting to officially make it’s appearance, you might be noticing that the leaves are starting to change color and clog the roadways.
While you may not realize it, leaves can create quite a problem when you need to come to a complete stop. In fact, it creates a similar sliding effect to snow and delays the time it takes you to bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
It’s a good idea to check your tire pressure in the fall (with temperatures dropping) and get a tire rotation if you have not recently had one. This will ensure that your tires have adequate tread, are aligned and properly balanced, and contain the correct tire pressure.
Fall is also a time when you want to keep an eye out for school buses, pedestrians, and fog! Just because there’s not snow on the road yet, doesn’t give you a good reason to go over the speed limit.
If you are planning on heading to the beach (or the shore) this summer, you’ll likely be crawling in crippling traffic. It’s the last thing you want when beachful bliss is just miles away.
We want to help you out and give you the latest traffic reports. We have a few tips and local resources for you to check out. Still, we can’t guarantee you won’t be moving slowly for at least a bit. You can thank us after you get your killer summer tan.
1. Plan Your Timing. Leaving at 10 am on a Saturday pretty much guarantees you’ll be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. Leaving very early in the morning ensures you’ll beat out the rest of the slackers. If you have summer hours on Fridays at work, take advantage of the extra time and get on the road as soon as you can.
2. Get An App. If you have a smartphone, take advantage of the helpful apps you have. For example, the iPhone Maps app and the Google Maps app now account for real-time traffic. You might know you’re way around, but having a heads up about traffic allows you to consider other routes. Another popular traffic app is Waze. Just don’t get distracted by your phone, and if you have a helpful passenger, designate them the navigator. They’ll feel really special when they get an official title and job.
3. Fill Up & Eat Before You Leave. Don’t waste your time with extra detours to stop for gas and food. Be sure to have a full tank and stomach when you leave or you could end up adding a ton of extra time onto your travel.
4. Be Prepared. Take a look at some of the routes below, as they may be helpful in avoiding traffic. Be sure to listen to local radio stations and check on traffic reports before you get on the road.
5. Ensure Your Car is in Top Shape. The absolute last thing you need is a car problem that has you waiting for hours on the side of the road. Here’s some travel tips for coming from the Philly area. Schedule a checkup or auto repair services with Tommy’s before you find yourself stuck in a nightmare.
Need an Alternate Route?
To the Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is home to many popular beaches, each with their own traffic problems. A recent NBC10 article asked John Butterworth, who does the WHYY traffic reports, his best advice for getting to the shore.
“It would depend on which Shore you are going to,” Butterworth said. “If you are going to the Wildwoods, go down 55, take the Delsea Drive. If you’re heading to Ocean City, I’d stick with the Atlantic City Expressway and the Parkway.
He suggests those looking for a more scenic route take the Black Horse Pike or the White Horse Pike.
Still, many people believe that staying off the major highways is a big No No because of red lights and low speeds. You be the judge.
The 495 closure is causing major headaches for area drivers. With the closure, many drivers are taking I95, which of course becomes extremely backed up. For driver’s coming from the Philly area, here’s some travel ideas from the Delaware Tourism Office.
— U.S. 202/Concord Pike from West Chester area takes travelers into Wilmington without having to travel on I-95 or I-495. Once in Wilmington, travelers can head further south toward the beaches (by taking U.S. 13, then connecting with Del. 1); swing to the west toward the DuPont mansions (on Del. 52); or head toward the Newark area (on Del. 2).
— U.S. 13 has long been an alternate route south through Delaware for travelers starting in the far southeastern Pennsylvania area. You can pick up U.S. 13 south just east of I-495, soon after crossing the Delaware border (take the Naamans Road exit off I-95). From that point, travelers can use U.S. 13 (also known as DuPont Highway) to reach Wilmington, or to head further south (to Old New Castle, or to Del. 1, which takes you the rest of the way to the beach).
— Consider taking a bridge over to the New Jersey side and approaching Delaware from the east – I-295, U.S. 40 and the New Jersey Turnpike all cross into Delaware via the Delaware Memorial Bridge. From that point, travelers can jump onto U.S. 13 (to reach Wilmington to the north, or Del. 1/beach destinations to the south).
— If you’re visiting from New York or northern New Jersey, consider traveling to the Delaware beaches on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.
This July, Peyton wants to make sure your engine doesn’t overheat and leave you stranded on a road trip. That’s why she’s offering 10% off all cooling system services, including coolant exchanges, radiators and water pumps. These services can prevent issues such as overheating, leaking, a strange smell coming from the engine, a frequent need to add fluid, or degradation of cooling system components.
The main components of your cooling system consist of the thermostat, radiator, and water pump. It keeps your engine cool by circulating water around cylinders then through the radiator. Factors such as operating conditions, type and frequency of coolant, and driving habits can affect how often you need cooling system maintenance. Be sure you take Peyton’s advice and get your cooling system checked before it’s too late!
Call (610) 696-2633 to make your appointment today! And don’t forget to mention the special!
Most cars need new timing belts by the time they reach 100,000 miles. In some Hondas, the deadline could be closer to 60,000. Neglecting the timing belt could result in major engine failure. This is a great reason to take advantage of Peyton’s Monthly Special before heading off on your summer road trips.
Throughout the month of June, Peyton is offering 15% off any timing belt service or replacement. Major signs of a worn timing belt aren’t visible, as the belt is housed in the engine. Though, abnormal squeaking or starting problems could be indicators that it’s time for a replacement.
Don’t wait until it’s too late! A spontaneous breakdown could ruin your summer plans. Be preventative and take advantage of this great deal.
Give us a call at (610) 696-2633 and mention Peyton’s special!
Now that the weather is finally getting warmer, Peyton wants to make sure your A/C is up to par. Although Peyton personally prefers to cool down by hanging her head out of the car window, she understands that most humans don’t share this enthusiasm. She’s offering an A/C Evacuation and Recharge for just $79.95 through the month of May. For the above listed price, receive up to 2lbs of refrigerant at Tommy’s – the standard amount for most vehicles.
If your air conditioner is blowing hot air or your defroster just isn’t defrosting, a low level of refrigerant might be the culprit. It could also cause you to waste gas when cooling the car. Bring your vehicle in for an evacuation and recharge to ensure you’re operating on the optimum amount of refrigerant. Take advantage of this special now, before the weather gets even hotter!
Give us a call at (610) 696-2633 to schedule an appointment, and be sure to mention Peyton’s special!
Did you hit any potholes this winter? Get your car riding smooth again just in time for spring. Our mascot Peyton is offering an alignment special for just $119.95 through the month of April. For the price above, the special includes:
Wheel Alignment
Wheel Balancing
Wheel Rotation
Keep in mind that out of balance tires will cause uneven tire wear and lower gas mileage. Also, your tires should be rotated & balanced about every 7,500 miles, regardless of any pothole problems. Peyton just wants to make sure that your vehicle is safe for both pets and their humans!
*Disclaimer: Valid for most cars and small trucks.
Give us a call at (610) 696-2633 to schedule an appointment, and be sure to mention Peyton’s special!
With the newest addition to our team comes a new tradition at Tommy’s Automotive. Because our furry mascot Peyton enjoys nothing more than making our human customers happy, she’s starting her own monthly specials. All you have to do is mention the special when you visit our shop. You can find details about our March special below.
This month, Peyton is offering a special on transmission services. All March long, customers can take 10% off any transmission service, including the following:
Automatic & Manual Transmissions
Flushes
Filter Changes
Fluid Exchanges
Volkswagen DSG Services Included
(We have most original manufacturer fluids in stock.)
Transmissions are expensive. Be sure to protect yours with some inexpensive, preventative maintenance! And don’t forget to thank Peyton with a treat!
Give us a call at (610) 696-2633 to schedule an appointment.
At Tommy’s, we can handle all types of cars, including specialty and luxury cars. Take a look at some recent cars we worked on.
Each car model and make requires individualized service, which is why we take the time to understand your car. We can handle repairs for all makes & models, and we also specialize in BMW repair.
Now that it’s the beginning of a new year, it’s a great time to reflect on all of the changes that happened at Tommy’s in 2015. We had a great year of growth, which included our first full year in our bigger (now 8500 square feet) and better location in the Matlack Industrial Center in West Chester. Thanks to all of our new space, we were able to service 1,000 more cars in 2015 than in 2014. It was also our first full year with Peyton as our resident guard dog. Although there were times when her bark was certainly worse than her bite, we found that a quick treat and belly rub sweetened her right up.
The holidays are full of cheer, bright lights, and wintry weather. But did you know winter weather could also mean a dead car battery?
