294 Reviews
ABR Houston
ARTICLES:
WHY IS FUEL EFFICIENCY LOWER IN THE CITY?
You've seen it before - the fuel efficiency estimations for a vehicle, indicating that you get way better gas mileage driving highway than in the city. Most vehicle drivers understand this fact, but do you know why fuel efficiency is lower in the city? You may have thought about it, and wondered why you get better fuel efficiency when you are driving faster (on the highway) rather than slower in the city. The truth is, when you drive in the city where there are streetlights, stop signs, and lots of traffic, it puts a toll on your vehicle's engine. When you are constantly accelerating and decelerating, your vehicle's engine is Read More...
WHY IS MY A/C NOT BLOWING COLD AIR?
It's the summer months, and being stuck in your vehicle after it has been parked in the heat for hours without a working air conditioning system can be brutal. You turn on your A/C and all you get is hot air - you may be wondering, why? There are many reasons why the air conditioning system can fail, and taking note of other symptoms you may be experiencing can help pinpoint the issue. For instance, if you're always noticing a strange smell when you turn on the air condtiioning or a strange noise, this can help your mechanic better understand the issue that may be occuring. One thing is for Read More...
BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT SIGNS
When it comes to brakes, any sign that there is a problem should be considered urgent. If you ever notice a strange noise or suddenly know that there is a lack in performance while braking, it’s time to have your brakes inspected. Your brakes are extremely important because they help you slow and stop when needed. As soon as you notice something off about your brakes, it is important to have your vehicle inspected at our shop to determine what the cause may be. Repairing the issue early on will save you money and will also help protect you and your family while driving. Your vehicle’s brake pads are an Read More...
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON
We understand that it can be stressful to see your vehicle’s check engine light turn on. It can be scary wondering about what the issue could be and how much it is going to cost you to fix it. When your vehicle’s check engine light turns on, it’s letting you know that it has detected a problem that needs to be addressed. The best way to get peace of mind and figure out the problem is to bring your vehicle into your local auto repair shop for computer diagnostics. Computer diagnostic testing is done using a tool that essentially snaps onto your vehicle’s computer system. It will read the error Read More...
HOW TO HANDLE A CAR EMERGENCY
Nobody wants to get stuck in a vehicle emergency situation, but chances are it may happen to you in your lifetime. The best thing you can do is be prepared for anything while on the road and understand the steps you need to take in a certain situation to protect yourself and your safety. If you get into an accident or your vehicle suddenly stops working in the middle of the road, here are some helpful tips to remember: 1. Stay calm and don’t panic. If you start to panic, you may lose sight of what you need to do in the situation and make things worse. Just breathe, and Read More...
SPRING VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Spring is a great time to take control of your vehicle’s maintenance. Driving in the winter weather can take a toll on our vehicles, causing wear and tear that can affect overall performance and fuel efficiency. Before your spring and summer road trip plans, be sure to come by our shop for a spring vehicle inspection. Here are the top spring maintenance items to keep your vehicle running smoothly into the summer! Read your vehicle’s owner’s manual and see if any recommended services are due Make sure you are current with your vehicle’s oil and filter change Have coolant levels, condition, and concentration checked Inspect belts & hoses for any Read More...
MOST COMMON CAR LEAKS AND WHAT THEY INDICATE
A leak underneath your vehicle can have many different reasons, some more serious than others. If you do happen to notice a leak underneath your vehicle, the best thing is to make note of the color, consistency, and location of the leak. This will help your auto mechanic pinpoint the issue, since a leak can come from many different components. Here are common car leak colors and what they can indicate: Clear - Clear liquid is just condensation from the air conditioning system, and is nothing to worry about. Red - Red fluid can indicate a leak of transmission or power steering fluid, caused by a broken transmission seal or Read More...
2019 AND THE FUTURE
A message from Alex, the owner- 2018 is behind us (well, maybe except for a few bills and loose ends from December) and 2019 is already here. I wonder to myself sometimes- "What will the next year bring us?" Its always a mystery to me on how it will unfold. 2018 was quite interesting. The next thing that comes to mind is "What can we do better?" This is where you come in. I want to know. Good or bad, I want to know. What can we do better to serve you going forward? Email me directly at alex@abrhouston.com. IF you think we have room for improvement, please tell me. Read More...
BMW CANCELS ALL DIESELS FROM NORTH AMERICA
Diesel-powered BMW vehicles will only be available for a few months more in North America. For 2018, BMW offered a handful of diesels, with the 3 Series available as the 328d, the 5 Series as the 540d xDrive and the X5 as the 35d. For 2019, all those will be gone. The 540d and the X5 35d have already been plucked from BMW NA’s online configurator, and the imminent debut of the new, G20 body 3 Series will sweep the F30 328d off the roster quite soon. In a statement to Autoblog, a BMW spokesperson confirmed that the brand is focusing on PHEVs in favor of diesels. "BMW of North America has seen a decrease in diesel sales and at the Read More...
TAKATA AIRBAGS- MAKE SURE YOUR CAR ISN’T AFFECTED BY THE RECALL ON THEM!
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning that tens of millions of cars with Takata air bags face an increased chance of exploding during a collision after prolonged exposure to hot and humid conditions. "Tens of millions of vehicles with Takata air bags are under recall," an NHTSA site devoted to the recalls says. "Long-term exposure to high heat and humidity can cause these air bags to explode when deployed. Such explosions have caused injuries and deaths." According to the NHTSA, there are 50 million defective Takata airbags in 37 million U.S. vehicles. Many of them are in states such as Texas and California, where years of hot, humid weather can cause a chemical Read More...