Austin's Best Choice for Auto Repair

Everything You Need to Know During wheel alignment service, technicians square the car's wheels and axles, putting them in the proper configuration for optimal performance. How do they do it? Machines make wheel alignment easier and more accurate for mechanics. In this post, the pros from Austin's Automotive Specialists in Austin, Texas, explain that technology and how it works so you can better understand what goes on during wheel alignment service. Measuring How can you accurately change the position of something without measuring? And how can you measure wheels? Technology helps technicians measure three or four different angles of wheel alignment: camber, caster, toe, and thrust. The first three of these refer to the way each wheel sits in the well, whether or not it is tilted, crooked, unbalanced, and so on. Thrust refers to the rear axle's angle to the front axle. Each vehicle has a specific measurement for each of these four angles to create the perfect geometry for optimal perf ... read more

Into the Garage Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the garage doors at the auto repair shop? Get a peek into what the technicians at Austin's Automotive Specialists in Austin, Texas, do every day! One of the most common tasks we do is engine diagnostics. In this post, we explain how we diagnose and fix check engine lights on all makes and models! Check Engine Light Triggers Before a car arrives in our shop, the check engine light comes on, alerting the driver that some kind of professional service is necessary. What causes that? There are so many reasons why a check engine light might come on. The computer system that tracks the health of major systems — the engine, exhaust, electrical, and so on — detects when something's wrong. Then it illuminates the check engine light. Behind the Light The only way to know what has triggered a check engine light is to use a scanner tool. You can purchase one at home or visit your local automotive professional to have them r ... read more

Why You Need Auto A/C Repair We're all familiar with the struggle. You get into your vehicle in the heat of summer, turn it on, and the A/C won't work. It doesn't get cold, or it doesn't blow strong enough to cool you down. When this happens, some people get into the shop right away for repairs. Others don't mind and decide to deal with it, but is that bad for your vehicle. Auto A/C problems might be more complicated than you think. Our pros at Austin's Automotive Specialists in Austin, Texas, can offer some insight, so you know what to do if your car's A/C breaks. Potential Damage When your A/C stops working, you might shrug it off and think, “what's wrong with being hot for a little while?” There's always the option of rolling down the windows to get the air moving while you're driving. While this solution might be suitable for some, it might not be the best for your vehicle. Some causes of A/C failure will lead to severe damage if they aren't handled quickly. Sometimes t ... read more

Will Your Car Need These Repairs? As Volkswagen repair experts, the technicians at Austin's Automotive Specialists in Austin, Texas, are familiar with the unique needs and weaknesses of those vehicles. While Volkswagens are designed to meet the same standards as every other competitive brand in the world, they are still susceptible to a unique set of issues. Like with other manufacturers, there are some areas of auto manufacturing that fall short over the lifespan of the vehicle. This shouldn't make you wary of purchasing a Volkswagen — they are great cars! This information can just help you prepare for the repairs it will need throughout its lifetime. Leaks Fluid leaks can occur in any vehicle, but they are notably problematic in some Volkswagen models. Whether or not your VW develops an oil leak will depend on how often you service it. Following a routine oil change schedule and sticking to the brand's maintenance recommendations may help you avoid oil leaks altogether. Oil lea ... read more

Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Explained Do you own a Mercedes? Do you understand its maintenance needs? Since your vehicle is a high-performance machine, it requires specific services. If you're curious about what those services are, keep reading! The pros at Austin's Automotive Specialists in Austin, Texas, explain what we do during Mercedes A and B Service. How it Works Taking care of a luxury vehicle isn't the same as it would be for just any car. You have to know what it needs and when. Fortunately, the Mercedes-Benz engineers have already figured this out. They lay out the requirements to make it easy for both drivers and mechanics to follow. Each maintenance schedule — A and B — has a list of services that the car needs. Those schedules will be required at different intervals, such as when your car reaches 10K, 50K, or 100K miles. Don't worry about keeping track of the intervals, as your car's computer tracker, the Flexible Service System, will let you know! Our technicia ... read more