Thanks to the readers of the Houston Press for voting The Auto Doc 'Reader's Choice: Best Mechanic!
HOUSTONPRESS.COM
Best of Houston® 2017: Your Key to the City
Houston Press
October 10, 2017 at 8:05 AM ·
Let’s take a moment to see all that we have to be proud about. This is #BestOfHouston 2017.
Houston Press
October 10, 2017 at 8:05 AM ·
Let’s take a moment to see all that we have to be proud about. This is #BestOfHouston 2017.
★★★★★
"Had my daughter's car repaired here last week and was very impressed with the service, price and turnaround time. Will definitely be back!"
- J. K.
A car’s starter is a small electric motor and solenoid that takes energy from the battery to push the starter gear into the flywheel. This process cranks the car and fires up the engine. If your car won’t start up correctly, it could be a starter issue.
What are the symptoms of a bad starter?
- Starter clicking
- Accessories run but engine does not
- Clicking after engine is on
- Smoke coming from under the hood
- Grinding noises after start up
CARBIBLES.COM
Symptoms of a Bad Starter | Car Bibles
★★★★★
"Easy to make online appointments, friendly and concise communication, text updates and reasonable prices. What a breath of fresh air!"
- K.
Transmission fluid is vital to the overall operation of your vehicle. In addition to lubricating the transmission’s internal parts, it also prevents overheating and metal-to-metal contact.
How often your transmission fluid will need to be replaced depends upon the make and model of your vehicle. Your vehicle’s manufacturer will recommend the correct interval. However, transmission fluid that looks dark brown, dirty, or sludgy should be replaced.
CARBIBLES.COM
When Is The Time To Change Your Transmission Fluid?
★★★★★
"Service was great"
- P. L.
Don’t let your vehicle spook you!
Take care of your car’s fall maintenance now to keep your vehicle running at its best all October long. Important fall maintenance items include:
- Brake inspection
- Replace windshield wipers
- Check all fluids
- Inspect tires
- Test lights
- Check heater/defroster
★★★★★
"My husband and I lived down the street from the AutoDoc for 7 years and took our Mercedes and other vehicles there. We now live 30 mins away outside of the city and CONTINUE to bring our cars to AutoDoc just because we trust them, they are up front, have good prices, do great work, and make us feel comfortable with our cars! They have our family as life-long customers!"
- B. M.
★★★★★
"Chris at the front desk made everything very straightforward. Only wanted to get an oil change, but notified me of all things my car needed to be done without being pushy about it. Very professional. Definitely going back for the rest of the things my car has to get done. Thanks to the whole staff!"
- N. B.
★★★★★
"Amazing experience at the auto doc. Knowledge is power and this business is POWERFUL! Quick, efficient and reasonably priced!"
- T. P.
What is a brake bleed?
A brake bleed is the process of removing air from the brake lines to restore your brake system to its best. Over time, small amounts of air can become trapped in your vehicle’s brake line. Air in the brake lines can decrease the effectiveness of your brakes significantly. If your brakes feel soft or spongy, you may need a brake bleed.
We have all experienced a scary car symptom, such as seeing the check engine light turn on or the sound of rattling bones coming from underneath the hood. But have you ever experienced something spooky or paranormal while inside your car?
We are getting in the Halloween spirit and want to hear your spooky car story below!
Who is guilty of this? 😂
Do you remember your first car? Let's face it - you probably drove a lemon. Whether it was a tin can or a straight up Flintstone-esque vehicle, chances are your first car has a special place in your heart.
What was your first car and what was your favorite memory of it?
EXTRAMILE.THEHARTFORD.COM
My First Car (A Compilation of Fond Memories)
★★★★★
"Auto Doc guys are great, highly recommended them!"
- A. M.
One way to avoid a turkey of a Thanksgiving road trip is to make sure the vehicle you will be driving is running well. A 10-minute pre-trip check is a quick and easy way to help avoid the inconvenience of a breakdown many miles away from home, says the non-profit Car Care Council.
Check the following:
- Fluids
- Belts & Hoses
- Tires
- Lights
- Wipers
CARCARE.ORG
Don’t Let Your Thanksgiving Road Trip be a Turkey - Be Car Care Aware
★★★★★
"I needed a high mileage tune up and Chris looked my truck over and recommended only what I needed and not service that I didn’t require. His team had my truck done very fast and my truck was returned clean inside and out. Thanks Chris!"
- C. B.
Check engine light on?
The check engine light is your vehicle's way of letting you know that something is wrong. But don't stress - the best thing you can do is bring your vehicle into our shop for an inspection. Driving with the light on can make matters worse, and we will help find the solution that best fits the needs of you and your vehicle.
Is it bad to drive your car if it doesn’t have a gas cap?
While it isn’t a major issue if caught early on, you don’t want to continue driving without a gas cap for an extended period of time. You’ll lose gas and debris and moisture can get into the fuel tank, causing performance and fuel efficiency issues over time.
It’s inexpensive to fix, so take care of a lost, missing, or broken gas cap!
AUTO.HOWSTUFFWORKS.COM
Is It Bad to Drive Without a Gas Cap?
This is your vehicle’s oil pressure warning light. While it may look like a genie in a bottle, it’s actually an image of an old fashioned oil can.
It indicates that your car is either low on oil or your oil pump isn’t circulating enough fluid. This is a critical warning light, since driving with low oil can quickly damage your vehicle’s engine.
Happy Tuesday Morning from The Auto Doc! #GroundhogDay #Sunrise #Houston
Your vehicle’s transmission is critical to the overall operation of your car, which is why an issue with the transmission should always be inspected at the first sign of trouble.
Here are 3 transmission problems that you should never ignore:
1. Issues switching gears
2. Leaking transmission fluid
3. Check engine warning light is on
★★★★★
"Professional, courteous, and quick service. Absolutely recommend!"
- K. K.
When’s the last time you replaced your vehicle’s cabin air filter?
The cabin air filter, typically located behind the glove compartment, is responsible for filtering the air that comes into the cabin of your vehicle. This helps to remove pollutants and other contaminants.
Cabin air filters typically need to be replaced every 20,000 miles or so, and breathing in dirty air can be a danger to your health.
★★★★★
"It's a hobbies of mine to look at the worst reviews and to see what stuck up person had a issue with something so small... Now this auto shops dealer replies the funniest stuff. I mean it can't get better than this... I WISH they did work on dirt bikes because there is no where else I'd rather take my broken dirt bike than this shop. (Just needs a clean carb but still)"
- B. K.