Who doesn’t love driving a new car?!!!  All of us would!  So somewhere between the new leather smell and your old best friend is the answer as to whether you should keep or sell your present vehicle.  Here are some general facts to help you come to a conclusion:

1)    The longer you hold on to a car, the less it depreciates each year – and the more cost-effective it becomes.

2)    Car depreciation is at its worst during the first few years of owning a car.

3)    There is always that initial blow of a car depreciating instantly from just driving it off the lot.  That can range between 20 and 25%!

4)    Insurance and registration fees always go up with a new car.

5)    Although something as severe as a blown motor or failed transmission can run between $2500.00 and $5000.00 (dealerships higher), it still isn’t enough money to buy a new car.  The dollars could be a nice down payment – but then you would have payments on top of that.

6)    Let’s say you have in mind to buy a new car.  An unexpected repair comes up that could sideline your plan.  Waiting a couple of years before having to make the purchase was foremost on your agenda.  Repairing it instead of turning it in would keep you on the road and not force you into a hasty new car purchase.  You would have the time to save more and prepare for your investment in the long run.

7)    Most car repairs are equal to 2 to 3 months of car payments v.s. 3 to 5 years of payments…something to think about!

IT’S ALMOST ALWAYS LESS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR A CAR INSTEAD OF BUYING A NEW ONE!

Reasons for buying a new car:

1)    You have saved up and are tired of your old car.

2)    New cars have new innovation.

3)    You’re tired of the back-in-forth to the repair shop.  Some things are fixed the first time around and other things seem to need constant attention.  Either way you are spending too much time and money on your transportation.

4)    You normally have at least 3 years of coverage to fend off the repair monster!

Here at Ike’s Transmissions and General Repair you can count on an honest assessment of your automobile repairs so a clear, financially healthy decision can be made.  Please let us help! 467-7881.

***The manual that comes with your car will be a great source for maintenance that needs to be kept up with and fluid levels.

Refill your antifreeze…

Goodness knows we’ve had climate extremes inTexas.  There is also the constant change in driving conditions.  It’s important to always have the right level of antifreeze or you might be putting the cooling of your car at risk.  It’s a good idea to keep a bottle handy in your trunk.  You need to add it when the engine is cool.  Use a funnel as you would when you are adding engine oil so that you won’t splash this toxic, green chemical on other parts of the car.

Check that motor oil…

Oil needs to be checked at the dipstick while the car is turned off and parked on a horizontal plane.  If you notice the oil looking black or deep red, it should be changed by a professional.  Pull the dipstick out and wipe it with a clean rag, then plunge it back into place.  Pull it out again and hold it horizontally for an accurate reading.  You want it to read just under or right at the correct oil-level line or indicator hole — it should never be over this.  Your car works hard and not changing the oil makes sets it up for trouble.  The cost of engine repair is no small thing…

Your battery…

One of the great things about batteries these days is that many of them no longer require much maintenance.  However, you should know where your car battery is located under the hood and check it periodically to make sure it has adequate water and is not leaking acid.  Look for a condition indicator that displays different colors to let you know how it is functioning:  white — charging is necessary, red — add distilled water and blue — everything is okay.

Align those tires…

The most accurate assessment of your tire alignment can be acquired by going to a professional who can make a determination from a computerized tester.  It would not be cost efficient to do this every few weeks, though.  A way to test for alignment is this:  Find a flat street.  Drive the speed limit and leave a hand on the wheel for safety.  Don’t steer it for a few seconds.  If the car veers in one direction and you need to manually keep your car driving straight, you need to make an appointment with a trusted professional for alignment or check for low tire pressure, especially in the front.

Replace the air filter…

To prevent dust and dirt from entering the engine your car has an air filter.  It only takes a few minutes to check it.  It is usually hidden under a plastic casing that can be unsnapped to switch it out.  Your operating manual will have precise instructions to avoid injury to yourself or harm your vehicle.  Make sure the engine is off before replacing it.

It’s hard to give a specific time or mileage figure for replacement because the life of the filter depends on how much pollution it ingests. A filter that lasts 20,000 or even 30,000 miles on a vehicle that’s driven mostly on expressways may last only a month or two in a rural setting where the vehicle is driven frequently on gravel roads. Changing it annually or every 15,000 miles for preventative maintenance may be a good recommendation for the city driver, but not its country cousin.

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Avoid money going down the drain and pat yourself on the back for taking time to do these simple but critical car maintenance steps.

We share this information with you so you can catch problems that are developing or better yet, prevent them from ever happening!  For any concerns or if we can be assistance in maintaining your vehicle or providing professional, timely repairs for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us!  We want to be your source for peace-of-mind solutions when it comes to your transportation!

There are a number of tests performed on your transmission by a professional that will narrow the problem to either the inside of your transmission or in the vehicle systems that control the transmission operation.

So it is decided that the problem is most likely a computer system –further tests will need to be performed to make a detailed diagnosis or to reveal a specific problem. There is a time factor involved. Anywhere from half an hour to two hours is an average amount of time spent to narrow the prognosis down. In either case, expect to pay for the diagnostic time — it is a legitimate part of any repair bill.

If the problem looks like it is inside your transmission, a rebuild price based on the type of transmission can usually be given with a 15 to 20% accuracy range. Why is that? Until the transmission is taken apart and examined for damage, your trusted technician cannot give you a firm cost of repair. Damage that was not previously visible can only be detected by opening up the transmission and seeing what is going on.

There is good news! A vast majority of transmission problems these days don’t point to the need for a re manufactured transmission. The cost of repairs are instead about 25% or less than the cost of a re-manufactured one (think of a rebuilt unit done by a transmission professional). It could be even more reasonable…this is because the solution may be as simple as a bad or lose connection or a weak battery!

At Ike’s Transmissions and General Repair it is our mission and our commitment to the community to always do whatever it takes to help you have a good night’s sleep. A place where honesty and professionalism are truly adjectives. We’re simply honored to be Austinites who love serving this community!

What is a re-manufactured transmission or a “reman”? It is a transmission that has been re-manufactured in a factory, usually in an assembly-line setting, most usually NOT by qualified technicians. The individuals doing this work replace parts they have been directed to put in as the case moves down the assembly line. The unit is then shipped to a repair shop who purchased it, then installed in your vehicle. Sounds logical — right?

If the transmission failed under normal conditions, the decision to use a re-manufactured transmission could be a good one. If, on the other hand, an unusual failure occurred, the factory workers might overlook problems that will lead to a faulty unit being replaced in your vehicle. A transmission specialist who has seen your car, diagnosed the problem and determined a solution to your auto woes, will only fix what is wrong. The best outcome possible depends on the shop and technician you are trusting.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: A transmission problem does not always mean you need a new transmission! If you pay for one…you may be throwing money away!

For example, if your Suburban transmission or your Tahoe transmission stops shifting, it does not automatically mean that your transmission needs to be replaced. These are electronically controlled transmissions…the problem could be electronic in nature. This is determined by skilled and knowledgeable transmission technicians. Instead of making a decision on the symptoms and not the problem, you could be lead to make a costly choice.

At IKE’S TRANSMISSION AND GENERAL REPAIR we put our experience of 32 years to work for you. We have families, too. We don’t want to be sold anything we don’t need and you don’t either. We are professionals that can diagnose your vehicle properly and put you at ease in such an important decision. Let us be your source for making a difference in how your car repair woes get solved! Call or contact us today at 512-467-7883.

Coming to an accurate conclusion as to what is truly wrong with your transmission requires hands on attention, experienced observation and proper use of diagnostic equipment and a good road test to become familiar with your car’s symptoms. It is important to know that the individual identifying your car’s problems is a specialist in his field. Many times, technicians who have specialization in other parts of the car are not as qualified as you would want to give you a thorough and trustworthy direction as to where the solution lies.

Over the phone, many times the words slip, squeak, grind, bump along with a variety of noises shared with your chosen technician may start a conversation, but until the vehicle is actually in the shop being looked at directly, a meaningful diagnosis cannot take place. What may be discussed is possibilities and ball-park figures when it comes to the cost of your repairs…

Today’s transmissions are highly sophisticated and electronically controlled. Most often a “high tech” expansive diagnosis is required to render a qualified opinion. When the system(s) in the transmission that has failed has/have been identified, then the extent of the internal damage can be determined and a more specific price can then be discussed. Any approach less than this would lead to a quote that isn’t accurate. There are countless variables that have to be understood in order to give a customer a firm cost. Even then, once a transmission is taken apart for repairs, other costs may be discovered on further inspection. Prior to the breakdown, though, your technician can give you a high to low range of costs based on similar transmission repairs of the same type, along with proper assessment.

Let’s say you call your dentist telling him/her that you have oral pain under a given set of circumstances. He’s going to be wondering — is this caused by gum infection, a cavity or popcorn stuck between your teeth! Does he need to do a complete tooth removal or possibly a root canal? The average consumer would be lacking in confidence if he immediately recommended a costly root canal when something far less invasive would suffice! Without a thorough examination and hands-on expertise, you would not be getting the care you deserve!

So….be willing to give your car a true check up from the neck up (so to speak)! When it comes to solving a transmission repair quandary — depend on the professionals that can make sure you aren’t overcharged. At IKE’S TRANSMISSIONS AND GENERAL REPAIR you can expect the best of both worlds — technicians who are experts in transmission diagnostics and technicians that understand general repair! We have you covered!

Your vehicle starting slipping and now you don’t have reverse. Chances are you have a transmission repair that needs to have the right approach…

Should it be a New Transmission?

Guess what. There is not truly anything such as a new transmission. Really, the only true new transmission can be found going into a car on the assembly line — into that brand new car! What people call a “new” transmission is really one that has been re-manufactured. These are transmissions have been rebuilt and brought back to manufactures specifications. They’re the same as any other rebuilt or re-manufactured transmission but is usually purchased from a dealership or one of a few after market plants. This distinction is important because when you are comparison shopping you want to do so apples to apples. It would seem logical to think a “new” transmission would be tops but there is no point in paying more for a transmission simply because someone is calling it new! The caveat is that the parts that go into a re-manufactured unit are more often than not brought back to OEM (original equipment manufacturer) standards. That means the parts that have have a design flaw are put back into the unit instead of relying on updates and upgrades a reputable transmission specialist would employ. Let’s explore…

Should it be a Rebuilt Transmission?

When a transmission is rebuilt the definition is a transmission that has been fixed by a transmission specialist. This is different from a re manufactured transmission. The specialist removes the transmission from your vehicle, takes it apart — down to nuts and bolts — for thorough examination. Parts are cleaned and conditions are diagnosed. He discards any component that has wear (typically clutches and bands). There are metal parts that could be damaged or worn. He replaces those. There is strong probability of updates from the manufacturer or his professional organization being integrated into the rebuilding. In the end, the transmission is reassembled bringing it to a like-new condition. New gaskets, seals and metal components replaced. The transmission is effectively new — even further, better than new. How? The updates your professional employs make it so. This is going beyond OEM standards mentioned above. Rebuilds, reman, refurbished, reconditioned or overhauled. These words describe the rebuilt transmission. They are different ways of describing the same thing.

Should I purchase a Remanufactured Transmission?

Generally, a remanufactured transmission – or “reman” – is the same as a rebuilt transmission except the transmission was rebuilt in a factory setting instead of a repair shop. Keep in mind that the remanufactured transmission has been taken from a different vehicle, rebuilt and installed in your car, in stead of coming from the one you drive.

Is there a concern? The problem comes if the remanufactured unit has failed in some unusual manner unknown to the plant — an example would be the case being porous (a not so usual problem often overlooked in mass production).

When you take your car into a repair shop the transmission is then diagnosed while it is in your car. The root cause of the failure can be more readily identified. Buying a remanufactured one could leave you with someone else’s problem(s). Generally, by choosing to get repairs with your chosen dependable source, there are few no surprises. What is wrong with your transmission will create the cost in repair. Purchase of a remanufactured unit includes repairs your transmission may not have needed and you are paying for that!

Is a Repaired Transmission an option?

Perhaps your vehicle doesn’t have a lot of miles on it. Maybe your specialist has found that only one component has broken or failed. A targeted repair might be just the right thing to decide on…

The technician can then choose to repair or replace a specific component or system. An example would be this: the input shaft snapped or a solenoid has failed. These parts can be replaced without rebuilding the entire transmission. Another type of repair is called a reseal; the unit is leaking but the components inside are fine. A technician can replace the seals and gaskets, correcting the leaks — thus, more life in your transmission and keeping costs down. You must know this is not without risk…the shop will only warranty the components or systems that were repaired. The mileage, age and your length of ownership considerations have to be well thought out.

Then there is the Used Transmission…is it for me?

Sometimes the situation may include the possibility of having a used transmission installed. Insurance companies are often totaling cars simply because the airbag has been deployed in an accident — a low mileage vehicle results, making it’s transmission a valuable option. It may very well be a consideration but with a limited warranty (the trade-off).

What is practical for you? Lots to consider, right? Please bring your car to IKE’S TRANSMISSIONS and GENERAL AUTO REPAIR. We’re here to help you diagnose the problem discuss options and help you come to the best solution for you!

1) The longer you hold on to a car, the less it depreciates each year — and the more cost-effective it becomes.

2) Car depreciation is at its worst during the first few years of owning a car.

3) There is always that initial blow of a car depreciating instantly from just driving it off the lot. That can range between 20 and 25%

4) Insurance and registration fees always go up with a new car.

5) Although something as severe as a blown motor or failed transmission can run between $2500 and $5000 (dealerships higher), it still isn’t enough money to buy a new car. The dollars could be a nice down payment — but then you would have monthly payments on top of that.

6) Let’s say you have in mind to buy a new car. Unexpected, a repair comes up that could sideline your plan. You had in mind to wait a year or two before making the investment… Repairing it instead of turning it in would keep you on the road and not force you into a hasty new car purchase. You would have the time to save more and prepare for your purchase in the long run.

7) It’s almost always less expensive to repair a car than buy a new one!

Reasons for buying a new car:

1) You can afford it easily.

2) You are tired of your old car and have saved up to afford a new one.

3) You’re tired of the back-in-forth to the repair shop. Some things are fixed the first time around and other things seem to need constant attention. Either way, you are spending too much time and money on your transportation.

4) You normally have at least 3 years of coverage to fend off the repair monster on a new car with the manufacturer’s warranty.

In general, the biggest value in cars is buying a late model used and driving it until the repair bills start seriously racking up. A plan like this minimizes the cost-per-year of your car and gives you the most years of cost-effective reliability.

Upgrading a three year old car to a new model gives you that new smelling car, new technology and a warranty but the only real advantage it provides you is the prestige of constantly having a new car at the costs of many hundreds of dollars a month versus keeping a car long enough to stack up the savings.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

Always maintain your car at its proper intervals to avoid problems and breakdowns. This takes some effort on your part to set up somewhere handy the service intervals, do them, thus keeping your car in its prime condition.

The purchase of an extended warranty can be a real off-set to car repairs. A $3000 transmission job can be intimidating unless you have a $200 deductible along with a small fee per month the warranty represents. Please shop around for the best source! (Love that internet!) Be sure to buy one that is “wear and tear” and “mechanical breakdown.”

We’re here for you at IKE’S TRANSMISSIONS AND GENERAL REPAIR. It is our commitment to keep your vehicle in it’s best running order and help you have peace of mind. You want to spend your dollars wisely so count on us to answer your concerns when deciding to fix or sell your car. HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

Older cars are equipped with a hose that allows coolant to run out onto the road or driveway when it overheats. That is an incident that is relatively harmless unless it happens every time you park the car. So, this happening often is a concern. We’re here to help you get it checked out! ***Never check an engine while it is hot! Later models have a coolant recovery system that captures and recycles any blow-off coolant. If you have coolant on your driveway on a newer vehicle., you should be concerned because of the re-capture system. It is a sign of potential trouble (like a leaky hose or water pump or possibly a corroded freeze plug, etc.) Get it checked out!

Tip: About engine coolants: If the temperature gauge fluctuates from hot to cold within a minute or two it is because the water temperature sending unit (which monitors water temperature) can only monitor the temperature of water and not steam or vapor — so the result is wide fluctuation and should be an alert that the engine coolant is low. Your car knows sign language!

So much goes on with your car — I’m sure you would agree but there is something you might not need to panic about…a clear shiny, liquid under the front and on the passenger side. Chances are, if you live in Texas, you’ve been running yor air conditioning and this kind of puddle is harmless. A water drain connected to the air conditioning system allows condensation to drip out onto the road. Wouldn’t it be nice if all fluids were so innocent!?!

We hope we have increased your knowledge on LEAKS.

Let’s do a quick review: You are officially a SPOTOLOGIST NOW!

1. Light brown or black stains, medium consistency: Engine oil leak

2. Reddish, light brown or black, thin or thick: Transmission leak

3. Reddish or light brown, thin consistency: Power steering leak

4. Clear, slightly brown and slick, medium consistency: Brake fluid leak

5. Differential fluid, thick consistency: Differential leak

6. Yellow, green, or pink, slimy: Engine coolant leak

7. Clear, shiny liquid, thin consistency: AC leak

Any of your concerns about these leaks can be addressed by bringing your auto to IKE’S TRANSMISSIONS AND GENERAL REPAIR. It is our goal to leave our customers better than we find them!

I want to begin a conversation about changing ATF or automatic transmission fluid on your vehicle. Change the fluid every 30,000 miles, but be careful, make sure that the filter is replaced. Many places advertise transmission fluid flushes but DO NOT replace the filter! Transmissions need extremely clean fluid to work properly, so when they flush a transmission without changing the filter, metal shavings and other things can get stirred up and sent through the transmission causing problems or even failure later down the road. Another sure way to know when to change it is by referring to the owners manual in the glove box. In the book you will see the recommended fluid change intervals for all your fluids. They are recommended by mileage for normal driving, but if you drive hard or do severe driving and a lot of stop and go, then change the fluids more often. Check transmission fluid on the dip stick and look for a nice red color and no burned smell. My next blog entry will give you specific instructions on how to check your own transmission fluid. Please look for it!

We urge you to do preventative care on your car just like you do for yourself. The same theory of keeping your body fit and fed properly is just like your car! The law of consequence is equal in both cases — in the keep – your- car – in – excellent – shape part of your life, Ike’s is committed to keeping your car maintained and you feeling great behind the wheel!

We can’t wait to hear from you…you are like family to us here in Austin!