Corpus Christi Auto Repair

No matter what make or model your vehicle might be, it needs to be equipped with healthy tires in order to perform effectively. As such, keeping your tires in good shape should be a big part of your vehicle's maintenance plan and having your tires rotated regularly should be a cornerstone of that plan. The life of a tire improves by a factor of 20 pct. when regular rotation is conducted which will ensure you get your money's worth out of the tires. In addition to getting you more value out of your tires, regular rotation will also save you money at the pump as your ride will be smoother for longer and you'll be burning less fuel. As a rule of thumb, it's recommended that your tires be rotated every 6,000 miles or so. This can be expedited depending upon a variety of factors. A major source of tire wear is weight distribution. This is especially true for front-wheel drive vehicles as two tires are absorbing the bulk ... read more

You might not consider fluids to be a vital component of your engine but they’re just as important as anything else and critical to your vehicle’s health. Just like you need to perform regular maintenance on the physical components on your car to keep it in good shape, your fluids need to be tended to regularly as well in order to stay safely on the road.Automotive fluids are involved with a wide variety of mechanical functions, all of which are designed to make sure your motor is working properly. Your fluids should be monitored consistently and changed out regularly so your vehicle stays safely on the road between tune-ups.Brake Fluid. Responsible for amplifying the force with which your car comes to a stop, this hydraulic fluid is typically glycol-ether-based but can also be comprised of silicone or mineral oil depending on the brand. You should generally change this liquid out every year or so to ensure your brake system is able to continue working at an optimal le ... read more

Having your vehicle stolen is one of the most frustrating and distressing experiences you can go through as a car owner. Even in the event your car is recovered, it will most likely require extensive repairs in addition to your having to fill out forms and paperwork galore and quite possibly engage in turbulent talks with unsympathetic insurance companies.If you’re looking to avoid having to deal with all the headaches and heartaches that tend to come with having your car, or its contents, stolen, here are a few steps you can take to help reduce the odds of your vehicle being taken:Have a thievery deterrent installed. Devices like “The Club” and “Lo-Jacks” are relatively inexpensive and serve as a good visual deterrent to potential thieves. If your car didn’t come with an alarm system installed, it’s not a bad idea to buy one and make sure its presence is well-advertised by stickers and such.Park in well-lit areas. Car thieves tend to avoid high-traffi ... read more

While it might be easy to let Mother Nature take care of rinsing your car with the occasional rain storm, you still need to have it thoroughly cleaned with regularity to avoid your vehicle’s body being attacked by iron oxide which can cause long-term damage.The easiest way to avoid rust issues and to keep your car looking spiffy is to regularly visit automatic car washes. It takes, on average, less than eight minutes to go through an automatic car wash. In addition to being time efficient, this method of cleaning your car is also more effective than scrubbing it with soap and water in your driveway; it’s pretty easy for a small rock to make its way onto your sponge and inflict some damage on your paint job. You can also possibly miss a cluster of dirt, which can also be harmful. Automatic car washes are thorough and are all but guaranteed not to harm your vehicle’s finish. A good number of modern car washes are a ... read more

We’ve all done it. Misjudged the distance from car to the sidewalk and – bam! Slamming your car into a curb one or two times can’t cause that much damage, right? Actually – it can.While it may seem like an insignificant occurrence, hitting a curb can potentially cause issues for your vehicle. Do not ignore it and cross your fingers that nothing was *too* damaged.One impact you could soon notice is your tire performance. Even when you hit a curb going just 5-10 miles per hour the effects can be felt. Drive as few as 200 miles and you may begin to feel the real impact of the damage done when you slam into something. So what can happen to your car when you bump that curb?In addition to your tires performing differently, your car’s tie rods are likely to be damaged. These rods connect the wheels to the steering system so you may notice a difference in how well the steering wheel responds as you use it. It’s likely that you’ll first notice this in poor conditions like wet roads.Another mech ... read more

On good road surfaces around Corpus Christi, cars are meant to drive smooth and steady. However, most people have experienced steering wheel vibrations at one time or another. Car parts can break or fail after continued use, and it’s not uncommon for car components to need to be replaced.Top Causes For Steering Wheel VibrationBecause your steering wheel is your connection to both your car and the road, your first indication that something is not right with your vehicle may be noticed first through the steering wheel. The top reasons for a steering wheel shaking while driving are:Tires – Because the steering wheel is used to direct the wheels, tires that are out of balance are likely to manifest signs here first. With this problem, you are more likely to feel the shakes at higher speeds than lower ones. Furthermore, make sure all four tires are properly inflated, especially with larger tires, as a deflated tire can cause a steering wheel to shake. Also, rotate your tires if you start to ... read more

Spring Clean the Exterior of Your VehicleTaking care of the exterior of your investment makes a lot of sense, beyond taking pride in your ride. National Car Care Month is a good reminder of something you can do regularly to maintain your vehicle and keep it looking sharp – wash your car! While frequent washing is the best way to keep your vehicle looking new, you want to be careful to perform your wash correctly so you don’t damage your paint by accident.A weekly car wash is best to keep your paint in great condition. Tree sap, acidic rain, bird droppings, dead bugs, and other debris picked up on the roads around Corpus Christi will leach acids that are damaging to the finish of your vehicle. If left too long, some damage could require sanding and polishing, or even repainting.Try to wash your vehicle when it is not terribly hot or in direct sun to prevent water and soap spots. You are trying to get it clean, not create more work! Start with a basic exterior wash to ... read more

As seasons transition from one to the next, you might not think there would be any effect on your car. But you would be wrong, especially in terms of your tires! Every 10-degree temperature swing can affect the tire pressure by 1 PSI (pounds per square inch). Tire pressure is instrumental to keeping you comfortable and ultimately safe on the road.So, let’s explore tire pressure.Best Practices – Set up a monthly schedule for checking your tires and tire pressure. By checking these items monthly, you will be able to identify if any of your tires are under-performing. Compare last month’s reading to this month’s reading. If there are significant changes, bring your vehicle into Dub’s Garage for an inspection.Visual Check – First start with a visual inspection and make sure the tread on each tire is wearing evenly. Next, does every tire have a valve cap? Valve caps help in maintaining proper inflation. They can keep dust and other particles out of t ... read more

The roads in Corpus Christi are far from perfect. Potholes, cracks, bumps, slopes… imperfections cover the surfaces of roads. Your vehicle rarely travels on a perfectly smooth area.But when you’re riding inside your vehicle, you should feel as if you are floating comfortably above these imperfections. That’s the job of your vehicle’s shocks and struts.The suspension system in your vehicle performs two critical functions: dampening and structural support.The struts act like a shock absorber, taking the impact of the road and absorbing the force so you don’t feel it inside your car. Without these, every bump and dip would be transferred directly into the car and you’d have a very uncomfortable ride.Shocks and struts keep you safe on the road by protecting your vehicle from impacts up-and-down and side-to-side. Anti-sway bars also connect both sides of your vehicle, transferring movement so you have a level ride. They provide critical stability to your vehicle.The biggest warning sign for ... read more

While you are around Corpus Christi browsing for cards, candies, and flowers for that special person that completes your life, don’t forget that special vehicle that completes your daily commute.Loving your car today will strengthen your long term relationship, and prevent relegation to the scrap heap. How can you boost your human-vehicle relationship? Three simple steps.1) Keep it clean. Sounds simple, but regular cosmetic maintenance is very important. Keeping chemicals and salts from the roadways washed off of the paint, wheels, and undercarriage will help prevent damage. Leaving Sodium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, and Magnesium Chloride sitting on your vehicle can lead to rust, corrosion, and flaws in the finish. Using a soft sponge during washes removes solid contaminants and chemicals that can destroy your paint finish. In more extreme circumstances, the corrosion can effect wiring and sensors. Maintaining the appearance also helps keep the value of your vehicl ... read more