Since the brake system of your automobile helps you bring the car to a stop as quickly as possible, maintaining properly working brakes is very important to your safety on the road. The following signs indicate that some type of brake repair is needed. High Pitched Squealing Any high pitched squealing sound when your vehicle …

  At Louetta Automotive, we’re committed to making it as easy as possible for our valued customers to get their vehicle serviced or repaired. The EarlyBird/Night Drop Off service we offer is designed to accommodate customers whose schedules won’t allow them to bring in their vehicle during regular 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. business hours. …

The readers have spoken and the results are in! Houston Community Newspapers is pleased to present the results of our annual “Readers’ Choice” awards for 2012. Voting was conducted March 6-April 1 via online ballots on the community pages of yourhoustonnews.com as well as in-paper ballots in the Tomball Potpourri, Magnolia Potpourri and Cypress Creek …

The reliability of a vehicle depends on how well the vehicle is maintained. Regular oil changes will keep the car working better and running smoother. The clean oil will lubricate the moving parts in the engine, and it will protect the vehicle’s engine from other impurities such as dirt, metal particles and carbon deposits. In …

If you hear screeching every time you step on your brakes, then here is what you need to understand: That screeching (whether loud or faint) is coming from your brake pads, and it indicates that it is time to have your car serviced. The sooner you have your car checked out, the better. Disaster is …

Are you ready to start planning some exciting spring and summer travel adventures by car? Then now is the time to consider getting your vehicle roadworthy by investing in fuel injection services. Every time you start your car’s engine, dirt and carbon deposits continue to accumulate in your vehicle’s fuel system, not only in the …

It’s not enough to add more water and anti-freeze to your radiator as the fluid evaporates off. Even draining and replacing your coolant regularly will only go so far in extending your car’s longevity, because only about half of the fluid drains out of the radiator. Your car’s cooling system should be flushed–cleaned by circulating …

As the spring temperatures begin to rise, your car will need to be prepared for the increased heat. Here some of the critical components to put on your checklist. Hoses Old and deteriorated car hoses are a ticking time bomb. These are some of the very first items that car owners should inspect. Also check …

If your car is in need of a service or repair, it is a wise decision to go to a shop with ASE Certified Technicians on staff. These quality mechanics are the best of the best. They ensure that the job gets done right the first time. To become qualified, a mechanic has to have …

Every driver knows the meaning of the proverbial “curb bump” when parking their car. These scrapes, no matter how small, can have a negative impact on many aspects of a vehicle–however preventable they may be. Certainly some instances are due to driver error, but having a properly aligned vehicle can make all the difference. Hitting …

In well-working, well-functioning cars, exhaust is barely visible. Exhaust smoke that is clearly visible from a distance is a sign there could be something wrong with your car, especially if the smoke is a vivid color. Should your car present any of the warning signs below, now is the time to have your car looked …

Many car owners underestimate the importance of their car battery. Neglecting the car battery may lead to being stranded in a parking lot. Although most car batteries are generally advertised as being maintenance-free, there are some ways to extend the life of your car battery. Inspect & Clean You should always periodically inspect your car …

At some point during your life, you are bound to hear and feel that rumbling, rough sound of a flat tire.  If you’re lucky, your insurance will have a roadside assistance plan, or you might have a tire blow out near a tire shop.  But why risk it when you can be prepared?  Here is …

It’s common sense to know that a car that has not been wrecked will generally last longer.  Improved life stems from a number of things that can be altered in an accident: weakened parts, low quality replacement parts, etc.  Since nearly 9 out of 10 car accidents are due to human error, we have some …

Your brakes are THE MOST IMPORTANT safety feature of your vehicle.  Understanding how they work, and what to look for (or listen for) can help prevent problems and costly repairs. How Brakes Work In your car, your brake lines are filled with fluid.  When you press your brake pedal, this forces the brake fluid into …

Part III of this series will cover 4 additional dashboard warning lights and the action necessary to correct it. While every manufacturer may have slight variations here are 4 of the most common dashboard warning lights and what they mean to you: ABS Warning Light This warning indicates a fault within the anti-lock braking system. …

For almost as long as the car has been around the dashboard, more specifically, the instrument panel has been the primary way for a vehicle to communicate back to its driver. As a driver you may not be aware of it but your vehicle is constantly communicating with you. In one glance you can learn …

Most people grew up being told to get their vehicle’s oil changed every 3,000 miles. A lot of people don’t understand why this is necessary, leading many people to skip oil changes. Unfortunately, this often just leads to an expensive auto repair. Your Oil’s Job The oil in your car or truck does a lot …

When you go shoe shopping, what do you look for? Can you sacrifice quality for cost and/or looks? Does the durability matter as long as they fit? Would you rather have one pair of long lasting shoes or two pairs of lower quality shoes at the same price? Your car’s shoes are more important than …

Your transmission can take a lot of abuse over the years.  After a while, it is bound to start having some problems. Transmission repairs can be expensive, so it’s worthwhile to pay attention to anything that seems unusual. Check out these 10 signs of transmission trouble and stay one step ahead of your car. Gear …

You may feel like you know your car better than anyone else. After all you spend a lot of time in it. Like a good friend you know your car’s likes and dislikes how it will drive under certain conditions, what brand of gas to buy and so on. However there are times when that …

Recently, CarTalk held a contest for the “Ultimate Chick Cars of All Time”. Readers responded with their nominations, the results were tabulated, and here they are! VW Beetle “The VW Beetle was made to be a chick car. It’s the only car with a FLOWER VASE as standard equipment.” VW Cabriolet “All teenage girls classify …

Recently, CarTalk held a contest for the “Ultimate Guy Cars of All Time”.  Readers responded with their nominations, the results were tabulated, and here they are! Ford Mustang “A back seat guaranteed to be too small for your mother-in-law”. Chevy Corvette “The main aspect that determines the appeal of a car is the hood-to-cab-length ratio.  …

Every car makes noise.  Bumpy roads, rainy days, high traffic, a great song; these can all contribute to even noisier journeys behind the wheel.  When you notice a sound that your car doesn’t normally make, don’t panic.  Almost every abnormal noise seems to sound detrimental.  Here are the three most common sounds your car could …

Buying a “New-To-You” car is exciting.  But before you get too emotionally attached, you should get a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic PRIOR to committing to the purchase.  Why is this important? As-Is Condition When you purchase a pre-owned vehicle, chances are, you are receiving the car as-is.  This means that the moment …

When you fuel up, the gas pump automatically shuts off once it fills your gas tank.  At that point, should you stop or put another half a gallon in?  Does it make a difference either way? Environmental Concerns In much older cars, gas caps used to have holes in them so that the vapors caused …

Warmer weather, longer days, road trips; there are a lot of things that make summer, well, summer.  Another, less amusing item that summer brings, is a steamy hot car interior.  Not only does this create an uncomfortable climate, it can be hazardous to your health and cause damage to your vehicle’s surfaces.  Here are a …

Nothing can put a damper on a good day like seeing that little check engine light in your dashboard come on.  Is there something seriously wrong?  How much will it cost?  Should you pull over now?  Don’t worry our service advisors are here to help. First off, if your car doesn’t sound like there’s a …

Buying a new(er) car is exciting!  That new car smell, showing off to your friends, learning all the new technology that came with it, standing by the curb and admiring it; all things that come with that new purchase.  Besides buffing out that dirt, what can you do to be a good car owner?  Here …

Brake squealing is a very common problem car owners face.  This can affect not only your car but also give you headaches when you drive.  Most of the time brake squealing is caused by brake pad wear; however, there are several other reasons which might cause the problem.  You should start by finding out what …

Everyone does it.  The reasons are many: wanting to get into a cool car during summer, waiting on someone outside a home or store, sitting in a traffic jam, etc.  However, with gas prices continuing to rise, your fuel economy has become increasingly important. Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel …

With record gas prices expected sooner rather than later, everyone is starting to dread pulling up to the gas station. As Americans drive more and more during the spring and summer months (exactly the time when gas prices normally peak for the year!) how can a car owner cope with these rising gas expenses without …

There is a saying precaution is better than a good cure. The meaning is simple. Why wait till something goes wrong and scramble to fix it when you can simply avoid something going wrong to being with? This is a line of reasoning that is generally applied to your health. However, this same reasoning can …

Have you ever pressed your gas pedal and.nothing? You double check everything. Car is on? Check. Car in gear? Check. Emergency Brake off? Check. Still nothing. So you think about recent service you may have gotten. Oil, tires, even that new muffler. What could have been missing? Transmission Fluid Transmission fluid creates the pressure your …

So you’ve bought a used car in the Houston TX area. How do you know what you’re getting? It is hard to know what you’re getting because people in the Houston area sell cars for different reasons. Think about why you’ve sold cars. Did you just want something new or were there problems that you …

Cars are becoming more sophisticated everyday and fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace. Oil Changes A number of new oil weights have been placed on the market in the last several years. Modern engines are built in much tighter tolerances and have very complicated …

Under-inflated tires waste gas for lots of folks in the Houston area. Think how hard it is to walk in sand  you just have to work harder because of the resistance. When your tires don’t have enough air in them, their rolling resistance is dramatically increased and it simply takes more gas to get anywhere! …

Spring is finally here!  After the winter, there are some things you can do to help get your car ready: Check Your Tires – Weather changes can increase or decrease your tire pressure.  Get it checked! Wiper Blades – Your wiper blades can go thru some harsh times during winter.  Have some fresh ones installed …