Dripping Springs Auto Repair

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

Your Car's Electrical System Deals With Many Components Of Your Vehicle From The Controls That Operate Your Window To Starting Your Engine. If Your Vehicle Is Having An Electrical Issue, It May Be Difficult To Pinpoint The Problem. Here Are Three Warning Signs To Start Looking Out For. 1. Trouble Cranking Engine While you might immediately assume it's the battery if your car isn't starting, it could be a component of the electrical system. If there is a defective component, it can drain your battery and stop the starter from cranking the engine. Especially be aware of this potential issue if you drive an older car. There is a higher possibility the rotating electrical parts could be taking a turn for the worse if you have more miles on your car. 2. Dim Headlights Weak headlights are a sign of issues involving the electrical system. While it may just be a bad bulb, it also m ... read more

Dripping Springs Auto, A Family-Owned Auto Shop In Dripping Springs, Announced They Are Lowering Their Price Of An Oil Change To Just $49.95. Dripping Springs Automotive is a well established business in the automotive repair industry and enjoys a good reputation in the community. They have been serving the people of Dripping Springs since 1990. Following the legacy started in 1975 by his father, Edward Taddia, Ryan is breaking the mold in the independent automotive repair industry. Ryan is an ASE Master Certified Technician and strongly committed to the standards ASE sets forth. He is proud to own the only Dripping Springs auto repair facility to be awarded the prestigious ASE Blue Seal recognition. Along with the reduced pricing, they are offering a vehicle courtesy inspection for anyone who comes in for an oil change. You can request and appointment here

As The Christmas Season Rolls Around, So Do The Cold Weather Car Issues. Don't Have Any Holiday Breakdowns This Year, Watch Out For These Common Cold Weather Auto Issues. 1. Dead Battery It's important to get your battery tested when you notice the cooler temperatures. Extreme cold weather can pull voltage from the battery, which makes starting your car a lot more difficult. In addition, your car is powering more components during the winter, including the heater and increased headlight time. Nothing is worse than going out to your car in the cold only to find out that it has died. Don't let it happen to you! 2. Lower Tire Pressure For every 10°F drop in the temperature, expect your tires to lose one psi. This loss in pressure could lead to bald tires, and bald tires do not perform well in winter. It can make driving on icy roads incredibly dangero ... read more

Finding A Mechanic You Can Trust Can Be A Huge Hassle. With These Easy Tips, You Can Find Your Go-To Mechanic In Dripping Springs. Certification Matters Finding a competent auto technician in Dripping Springs does not need to be a matter of chance. Much of the guesswork has been eliminated, thanks to the national program conducted by the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). ASE tests and certifies automotive professionals in all major technical areas of repair and service. With more than 300,000 currently certified professionals, the ASE program is national in scope and has industry-wide acceptance and recognition. Ask The Right Questions To weed out the mechanics who might be trying to swindle you, it's a good idea to ask a few questions before you get started on any repairs. Below are a list of questions you need to ask first. A few to get to ... read more

After Over 20 Years Of Being Known As ProTech Auto, The Family Owned Business Changes Their Name To Dripping Springs Auto. Dripping Springs Auto, formerly ProTech Auto, is a local family-owned automotive repair business in Dripping Springs, Texas, which believes in providing a superior customer service experience. Their automotive repair facility is fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained ASE Master Certified Technicians. Ryan Taddia took over the family business from his father, Edward Taddia. Ryan is a graduate of Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas, and has an Associates degree in Automotive Technology. He is an ASE Master Certified Technician and strongly committed to the standards ASE sets forth. Dripping Springs Auto in the only auto repair facility to be awarded the prestigious ASE Blue Seal recognition, and they are currently offering $25 off to ne ... read more