Dripping Springs Auto Repair

The last time you were at an auto repair shop you may have been offered an EFI service.  If you don’t have a trusting relationship with your auto shop, you may feel like they were trying to sell you snake oil.  Let’s look at what EFI is and why these services are essential to keeping a healthy engine. First, what is EFI?  EFI stands for Electronically controlled Fuel System.  This system is responsible for delivering gasoline from a vehicle’s fuel tank to the engine’s combustion chamber in the proper amount and at the proper time.  Unlike older fuel systems that used mechanical devices to deliver fuel, electronic controlled systems use sensors to gather information and deliver it to the engine control module.  This module then commands fuel injectors to operate, thereby delivering fuel to the engine.  Today’s engines use two different types of EFI systems, Multi-Port Injection (MPI) and Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) ... read more

We all know the image of an old “shade tree” Mechanic.  A burley face half covered by greasy scruff, a ball cap, stained coveralls, a red rag in the back pocket, and beat up hands the size of bear paws.  Although vehicles of that time were much more rudimentary, he always had an answer.  Today’s Technicians have a new image and are faced with new challenges brought about by the ever-evolving world of automotive technology.  Master Technicians today need to know how to interpret electrical circuits and communication diagrams, program a network of modules, and still be able to perform the same mechanical repairs of yesterday.  This raises the question, how competent is the guy working on my car? Unlike other professions, there is not a required certification process to become a Automotive Technician.  Anyone with a box of tools and a little bit of know-how can work on cars, but sometimes this leads to trouble.  This is where the Natio ... read more

Growing up, one of the fundamental values my parents instilled in me was the importance of service.  They were members of several service organizations and would let me tag along during service projects and other club events.  After graduating from college, I returned to my hometown of Dripping Springs, ready to enter the workforce.  I also began searching for an outlet to serve the community.  There were several civic organizations to choose from, but the Rotary Club of Dripping Springs was the outlet I chose.  I was excited to have found a way to give back to the community that had given me so much.  Rotary’s mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.  On a global and national level Rotary promotes sustainable projects to aid people in need in all areas from literacy and peace to water and health. &nbs ... read more

Inner Workings of an A/C Can you remember a time when all we had was cold iced tea and a pair of vent windows to keep us cool as we drove into Austin?  If you were lucky enough to have A/C in your car, you had to move the switches/levers on the dash to manually control the different parts of the A/C system.  Unlike modern vehicles, these A/C systems were very basic.  Today, vehicles are easier to keep cool while cruising down the road, but also much more complex!  The modern A/C system affords the occupants the luxury of automatic cooling functions and different vent temperatures throughout the vehicle.  Here is a little information to help you understand how an A/C system works and why they are so expensive to fix.  To begin, an A/C system is composed of 3 separate systems that work together as one.  These systems are the A/C control unit (AKA, the computer), the ventilation system, and the refrigerant system. The A/C control unit is one of many c ... read more

Passing the Torch Father’s Day is upon us and what better way to celebrate than highlighting the relationship between a father and his son. This month we bring you two very special individuals who are incredible community members, Ed Taddia and his son, Ryan. The Taddia family moved to Dripping Springs in 1990 because it brought them close to their family in Austin while having the advantages of a quiet, small town, in the rural Texas Hill Country. Some of Ryan’s earliest childhood memories are of his father coming home from work.  Ed’s hands and clothes often carried the distinct smell of the shop: a combination of hard work and petroleum products, something Ryan will always remember. Ed would get home right before dinner and usually return to the shop once the kids were on their way to bed.  On the weekends, he would bring Ryan to work where he passed the time sweeping floors, cleaning tools, and looking over his dad’s shoulder with a flashlight ... read more

Why Does My Car Shake?  Why does my car shake?  This is a question I often get asked.  With everything going on under the car this question can be hard to answer without additional information.    Some vibrations can cause safety concerns, others can be just an annoyance.  That’s why it’s important to have your vehicle inspected by an ASE certified repair center to confirm the cause.   Driving vibrations occur when there is a worn /lose component or when there is an imbalance in a rotating part.  Determining how and when the symptom occurs can tell us a little about the vibration and narrow down the possible causes.  Here are a few symptoms to consider and some possible causes associated with each.  Why does my car shake when I hit the brakes?  This is called brake pulsation.  In most cases it occurs when there is a warped brake rotor or brake drum.  When the wheel ... read more

POWER Wheels! CAUTION!  This article could potentially create a safety hazard and get you in trouble with your significant other, although your kids will love it!  Replacing the 8 volt battery on a Power Wheels with an 18 volt power tool battery will turn a kid’s toy into an 11+ mph plastic go-cart! I’d heard about swapping the battery on a Power Wheels, but never gave it much thought until I inherited one with a dead battery.  After a little research, I decided to upgrade the battery and see what happened.  This is my experience… Working in the automotive industry and being a “do-it-yourselfer” I have several battery powered tools.  For me, it was much easier replacing and charging a lithium tool battery than waiting 18 – 24 hours for the original 8 volt lead-acid battery to charge.  Aside from quicker charge times, when the battery dies you can easily change it out and keep f ... read more

How long will your car last?  This is a common question that might be harder to answer than you’d think.  There are many things that can shorten a vehicle’s lifespan.  Driving conditions and our habits behind the wheel can play a large role in long-term wear and tear.  But if we put these aside, the area that makes the most difference in keeping vehicles running better for longer is how they are maintained. So, what is maintenance?  Preventative maintenance is defined as “service that is routinely performed on physical assets to reduce the chances of equipment failure and unplanned machine downtime.”  Most of us know that the engine oil must be changed, but what else and when?  Some other maintenance items include engine air filters, cabin air filters, fuel filters, coolant, fuel system services, shocks/struts, etc…   Every manufacturer provides a minimum maintenance schedule for the vehicles they produce base ... read more

Are You Guilty Of Neglecting Your Car? It's Easy To Forget About Routine Car Maintenance When You Have About A Billion Other Things Going On In Your Life. The Truth Is, If Keep Up With A Maintenance Schedule, You Avoid Unexpected Breakdowns Early On Its Life. We've All Heard Of Cars That Have Lasted 200,000 Or Even Up To 500,000 (Gasp!). You Could Join That Club Too! Here Are A Few Easy Tips You Should Adhere To In Order To Extend The Life Of Your Car. 1. Check The Oil Hey, you knew this was going to be the first one, but you still need to be told! Keeping up with the proper amount of oil in your machine will keep your car running smoothly. Oil's job is to lubricate your engine and carry heat away. Oil changes are necessary because as it moves through the engine it picks up dirt and debris; once it become too dirty, it's no longer effective. If you neglect to change your oil, you can bet you ... read more

There You Are Driving To Work When You Hear Your Car Start To Make A Weird Clunking Noise. Or Maybe You're Picking Up The Kids From School When The Steering Wheel Becomes More Difficult To Turn. Whatever The Case May Be, It's A Good Idea To Get Your Car Checked Out Immediately. Here Are Three Questions To Ask Your Mechanic BEFORE Your Car Is Repaired. 1. Can You Explain The Details Of The Repairs My Car Needs? It goes without saying, you should be asking about the details of the repair BEFORE it gets done. A good mechanic should be able to break it down for you, and explain why these repairs are necessary. If there is any hesitation, you should reconsider where you get your car repaired. 2. Will You Provide A Written Estimate? It's important to have a written estimate of the repair before they get to work! The estimate should contain everything from the necessary parts to ... read more