Driving your vehicle in the heat or cold with a faulty AC & heat system can be a truly awful experience. Our technicians are ASE-certified and have experience working on AC & heat systems in all makes and models of vehicles. Today’s cars don’t have the warning lights on the dash to alert you to problems with the AC & heat systems, but let’s be honest – if your AC & heat aren’t working like they once did, you are extremely aware there is a problem.
When you bring your vehicle to our experts, we will visually inspect your belts and hoses, refrigerant, compressor, fan, and test for leaks. We will also run a diagnostic test on the system and see if any hidden error codes are returned.
SIGNS FOR A FAILING AC & HEAT SYSTEM
Are you driving around with compromised brakes? Are your brakes making squeaking or high pitch sounds? Does your car shake when you tap on the brakes? Do you have to apply extra pressure in order for your brakes to work?
The tell-tale squealing or high-pitched screech that comes when you apply pressure to your brakes is the sound of the metal shim giving you a noticeable warning that you need new brake pads. This metal shim is called the indicator and is incredibly useful.
Brakes are too important to ignore. Our ASE certified and manufacturer certified technicians are some of the best in the entire state of Texas and will run a full 32-point diagnostic test and an in-depth brake test to determine exactly what your vehicle needs. As you know, bad brakes can be a huge problem!
Is your vehicle acting funny? Smell something funky in your car? Are some of your dashboard repair lights on? Is your car making abnormal sounds, shaking, or pulling to one side? Or does it just feel “off”?
If you’re not sure what’s wrong with your car, we can figure it out using the most up-to-date electronic diagnostic equipment to inspect your vehicle it to a repair.
It’s important that your car is diagnosed correctly. Too often mechanics are quick to fix symptoms and not the underlying issue. Unlike other shops or dealerships, we at First Gear Automotive diligently serve our community and put our customers and their safety as our top priority. While many shops have a hard time diagnosing a problem on a European car, our skilled and experienced mechanics are the “go-to guys” when it comes to identifying issues.
PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY AND PERFORMANCE OF YOUR VEHICLE
All vehicles require regular maintenance to keep them road ready and safe.
Oil services, flushing fluids, comprehensive inspections, replacing your filters, and tune-ups are some factory-recommended services that need to be performed regularly on your vehicle. At First Gear Automotive, our ASE-certified technicians can perform factory scheduled maintenance on all makes and models of vehicles. We can help guide you on the proper practices for preventative maintenance for your vehicle.
Staying on top of your vehicle’s maintenance schedule will save you money on major repairs in the long run. If you are unsure about how often your vehicle needs service, you can always talk to one of our vehicle specialists about factory recommendations and how often they need to be performed.
RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE LIST:
PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY AND PERFORMANCE OF YOUR VEHICLE
If you want your vehicle to last for the long haul, regular oil changes are an absolute must! Oil changes are necessary because they help keep your engine lubricated. With clean oil, the different pieces of your engine can glide how they are meant to. However, without clean oil, your engine will get grimy and the different parts in your engine will begin rubbing on each other. This causes friction and leads to cars overheating or engine failure.
WATER PUMP REPAIR
In many vehicles, the water pump is driven by the timing belt, and it is usually recommended that your water pump is replaced along with a timing belt replacement. Other key components like tensioners or idler rollers can fail too.Your vehicle’s water pump is part of the cooling system and is what keeps your engine from overheating by circulating coolant through the engine to the radiator.
TIMING BELT REPAIR
Your vehicle’s timing belt is essentially what keeps your vehicle’s engine running. Belts can often snap or break and naturally wear over time with normal use. A properly working water pump is important to keep your vehicle running in top condition and to prevent irreversible damage to your engine. When your vehicle’s engine overheats, internal parts can warp and expand, which can compromise the performance of your engine.
SIGNS OF A FAULTY TIMING BELT
Your car’s suspension system is vital to your safety on the road and in helping you maintain control of your vehicle. When your suspension is in trouble, it can make your car nearly impossible to control and can even cause major damage to the vehicle’s internal components. We recommend that your steering and suspension components be inspected at least once a year to make sure that everything is in top working order.
If you are experiencing any of the issues above, bring your vehicle into our San Antonio auto repair shop at the first sign of trouble. Ignoring a small problem with your vehicle’s suspension system now can turn into a bigger, more expensive problem down the road. We have the latest computer diagnostic equipment and expert technicians to determine the exact cause of the problem.
SIGNS OF A FAULTY SUSPENSION SYSTEM
Without a doubt, the transmission is the most complex and complicated component in your entire vehicle. Weighing in at over 800 individual pieces, the transmission is your car is tasked with changing gears as you increase and decrease the speed of your vehicle. When your transmission is in trouble – maybe you feel some shaking when you change gears or your check engine light is activated – you won’t want to trust such an intricate part of your vehicle to just any auto repair shop.
Today’s transmissions are simply built to last. These vehicular components can go 50,000 miles or more without the slightest attention, and transmission service is generally a part of the 30/60/90k milestone services. But drivers who truly want their transmissions to last have the option of a transmission flush. This is the process of completely removing and replacing the specialized fluid in your transmission, and it is said to help your transmission last even longer.
30/60/90K MILES SERVICE
Your 30/60/90 service will include some combination of:
Maintaining proper tire alignment on your vehicle is vital in order to keep control of your car while driving and to prevent your tires from wearing excessively and rapidly losing tread. If your vehicle’s tires are out of alignment, you will notice that it is much more difficult to control your vehicle.
We recommend having your tires rotated every 5,000 miles or so. This helps to evenly wear down the tread on your tires, which can extend their lifespan. We also offer flat tire repair services. If you have a flat tire, we can patch it up for you. If a repair isn’t possible, we can match you up with the perfect new tires.
SIGNS YOUR WHEELS ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT
