Austin's Best Choice for Auto Repair

It's officially fall here in Austin! It's time to schedule your vehicle maintenance service while temperatures aren't too cold. Maintaining your vehicle saves you money, which means your pockets won't hurt during the holidays. A well-maintained car runs more efficiently. Caring for your car in the fall prevents winter break downs. Below are five tips to consider for fall vehicle maintenance.  Check the Tires It's the perfect time of year to check the condition of your tires. Stop by a nearby gas station and check their inflation. Take the opportunity to give them a fill or even decrease their pressure if you need to. Keep an eye on the tire tread. Tire tread tells you a lot about the health of your tires. If the tire tread is even, the wills are aligned and balanced. Uneven tire tread usually spells trouble.  Oil Change  Check the last time you brou ... read more

Buying a safe, reliable car doesn’t always mean purchasing new. Today’s used cars are just as efficient as more modern cars, sometimes even with a cheaper price tag. In the past, buying used felt like a game centered on chance. Carfax reports and pre-purchase inspections have made purchasing a used car a common choice for most households. Below are five reasons you should consider purchasing a used vehicle.  1. Depreciation A new vehicle starts to depreciate the moment the front tires drive off the lot. By the time the car turns one year old, it will lose about 20% of its value. Since a new vehicle depreciates quickly, it’s best to save money by purchasing an affordable car with few miles. You don’t lose as much value in depreciation in a used car as you do a newer. 2. More Value If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, your new car budget may get you more value purchasing a used vehicle. A new car budget may afford you the base model of a new car ... read more

When most people think of tire maintenance, they think of tire pressure. Is your tire under-inflated, over-inflated, or completely flat? All of these aspects are important and deserve your undivided attention. However, there is one aspect of a tire that is infamously forgotten about - the tire valve stem. The tire valve stem is just a piece of plastic, right? So, what’s the big deal? The tire valve stem cap is a critical component of the tire because it helps maintain tire pressure. Every tire has a Schrader valve; this valve is necessary to keep tires inflated. The tire valve cap acts as a cap for the Schrader valve. Without the tire cap, the Schrader valve is not completely leak proof. When the tire cap isn’t on, the Schrader valve becomes exposed to road elements such as water, dirt, and road salt. If the valve becomes dirty or damaged, air from the tire is more likely to leak out. Tire leaks can cause significant damage to all components of your tires and lead to a de ... read more

This year summer is bringing a lot of sun and blazing heat. This season is the perfect opportunity for a road trip. Gas prices may not be as low as they once were, but with some simple adjustments to your driving habits, you can get summer gas mileage. Below are some fuel-saving ideas to get better gas mileage for your summer road trip. Avoid driving too aggressively. Take your time and drive safely. There is no need to drive in a way that risks your life and the lives of others. Not only is weaving in and out of traffic dangerous, but it’s also bad for your gas mileage. Aggressive driving with hard braking and acceleration decreases your gas mileage by 33%, according to energy.gov. Slow down. Do you like to do a little “pedal to the metal” sometimes? It’s a guilty pleasure for most. To save on gas mileage, slow down a bit when driving. For every 5mph that you drive over 50 mph, your fuel efficiency drops. Use the A/C strategically. Using the A/C at high spee ... read more

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